The development and implementation of an interactive application for new ostomy patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Surgical Patient Care
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Effective guidance for ostomy surgery patients is crucial for enhancing self-management and minimizing healthcare utilization.
• Developing digital tools can support patients throughout the ostomy surgery journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an interactive application (StoManager) for educating ostomy surgery patients.
• To evaluate patient satisfaction, usability, and implementation of the StoManager application.

Main Methods:

• A literature review and cross-sectional study identified key topics for the application.
• StoManager was co-developed with patients and healthcare providers.
• A pilot study evaluated usability, satisfaction, and home nursing care needs among 30 ostomy surgery patients.

Main Results:

• StoManager included comprehensive information on ostomy surgery, self-care, and complications.
• Patients reported high usability (7.5/10) and satisfaction with StoManager.
• 93.3% of patients did not require home nursing care post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• An interactive application like StoManager is feasible for supporting ostomy surgery patients.
• High patient satisfaction and usability suggest potential for improved self-management and reduced healthcare costs.
• Personalizing the application could further enhance its perceived value and effectiveness.