Development and Systematic Evaluation of a Progressive Web Application for Women With Cardiac Pain: Usability Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Cardiac pain is a key indicator of coronary artery disease, but its presentation varies in women, complicating diagnosis.
• Women often delay seeking medical care for cardiac symptoms, preferring to consult with family and friends first.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the user performance (ease of use, efficiency, errors) and satisfaction (System Usability Scale; SUS) of the 'at heart' progressive web application.
• To evaluate the usability of 'at heart' across different devices and user groups.

Main Methods:

• Iterative usability testing with women aged over 18 experiencing cardiac pain or symptoms for more than 3 months.
• Two testing cycles were conducted, assessing performance and satisfaction on web and mobile platforms (Android, iOS).
• User feedback was collected through investigator documentation, System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires, and semistructured interviews.

Main Results:

• The 'at heart' progressive web application demonstrated high overall usability, with a mean SUS score of 81.75.
• 90% of participants rated the user-friendliness as good or excellent, and 100% found it easy to use and efficient.
• Key themes for user satisfaction included the application being engaging, comprehensive, understandable, credible, relevant, affirming, personalized, and innovative.

Conclusions:

• The 'at heart' progressive web application shows initial promise and support for women managing cardiac pain and symptoms.
• Further evaluation in Phases 3 and 4 is recommended to examine feasibility, acceptability, and engagement with core features.
• Future trials should assess effectiveness and explore implementation contexts, including demographics like race, ethnicity, and geography.