An Exploratory Evaluation of an Interactive Smartphone-Based Telephysiotherapy Application for Temporomandibular...

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Rehabilitation technologies
• Oral health research

Background:

• Telerehabilitation offers potential for improving adherence to home exercise programs for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).
• The usability and user satisfaction of smartphone applications for TMD management are not well-established.
• Exploring digital tools is crucial for enhancing patient engagement in managing chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient-reported satisfaction, motivation, adherence, and usability of the MedicApp smartphone application for TMD home exercises.
• To evaluate dentist-reported outcomes, including perceived usefulness, usability, and feasibility of the MedicApp.
• To investigate the relationship between educational level and the usability of the smartphone application.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre prospective observational study involving 47 adult patients with painful TMDs.
• Patients completed a 2-month home exercise program using the MedicApp, featuring video tutorials and remote dentist monitoring.
• Patient- and dentist-reported outcomes were collected using study-specific questionnaires.

Main Results:

• High adherence (91%) and consistent use of video guidance (62%) were observed.
• Patients reported increased confidence (96%) and motivation (85%) with MedicApp.
• Dentists perceived the application as helpful for supporting adherence and communication.

Conclusions:

• The MedicApp was favorably perceived by patients with TMDs for supporting home exercise programs.
• Patients appreciated the visual guidance and remote monitoring features of the application.
• Further confirmation is needed before widespread implementation of this telerehabilitation tool.