Promoting patient self-management following cardiac rehabilitation using a web-based application: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Mobile health applications are increasingly vital in healthcare.
• These tools empower patients to enhance health literacy and manage chronic conditions.
• Cardiovascular diseases require continuous patient engagement and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a web-based application, the cardio-app, accessible on multiple devices.
• To assess the usability and user experience of the cardio-app among cardiovascular patients.
• To understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement in digital health tools.

Main Methods:

• A survey involving 158 cardiovascular rehabilitation patients.
• Usability assessment using the System Usability Scale (SUS).
• Evaluation of usage behavior via a custom-developed questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The cardio-app achieved a SUS score of 74.4 (SD ±17.4).
• High user satisfaction reported for navigation (86%), visual appeal (92%), text understandability (95%), and glossary explanations (93%).
• 57% found the app helpful for physical activity planning; 83% would recommend it.

Conclusions:

• The cardio-app demonstrates strong usability and positive user reception.
• Key criticisms included a lack of synchronization features.
• Further research is needed to confirm the app's impact on clinical outcomes.