A mobile application-based home assessment tool for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery: A qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Rehabilitation Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction in Healthcare
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Aging in place is preferred, but homes often lack accessibility for adults post-joint replacement surgery (total knee arthroplasty/total hip arthroplasty).
• Proactive home modification is crucial for safe transitions home after surgery.
• Existing technological assessment tools are professional-oriented; resident acceptance of mobile apps for home assessment is unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and potential acceptance of a mobile application for resident-initiated home assessments.
• To explore patient-care partner perceptions of a mobile tool for pre-surgery home evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews.
• 22 patient-care partner dyads were interviewed before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Interviews focused on perceived usefulness, likelihood of use, and barriers/facilitators of a mobile assessment app.

Main Results:

• 68% of dyads perceived benefits from a mobile application-based home assessment tool.
• High perceived usefulness correlated with a high likelihood of using the tool.
• Post-surgery, 50% of participants showed increased intention to use an assessment tool after experiencing home challenges.

Conclusions:

• Resident awareness of home challenges and assessment tool importance is key to increasing mobile app acceptance.
• Participant-provided recommendations on content, features, and formats offer a framework for developing effective health mobile applications.
• Designing user-friendly home assessment tools can enhance safety and independence for individuals aging in place.