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An Exploratory Evaluation of an Interactive Smartphone-Based Telephysiotherapy Application for Temporomandibular
Ida Marini1, Sandro Palla2, Alessandro Maglioni1
1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Background:
Telerehabilitation may support adherence to home exercise for the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), yet the usability and user satisfaction with dedicated smartphone applications remain underexplored.
Objective:
The primary aim of this multicentre prospective, observational, and exploratory study was to assess patient-reported satisfaction, motivation/self-efficacy, adherence, usability, and user-friendliness related to a home exercise program for temporomandibular disorders delivered through a smartphone application (MedicApp). The secondary aim was to evaluate dentist-reported outcomes related to the use of the application (perceived usefulness, usability/user-friendliness, and feasibility), whereas the tertiary aim was to explore the association between educational level and application usability.
Methods:
The study was conducted by four dentists at three Italian universities and enrolled a total of 47 adult patients with painful TMD, diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. Patients performed a 2-month home exercise program delivered through the MedicApp. The application features a dual-feedback mechanism: patients view tutorial videos in the lower part of the screen and record their own exercises in the upper part, which are uploaded to a server for review by the dentist, who may intervene if necessary. Two study-specific questionnaires were developed to assess the patient-reported and dentist-reported outcomes.
Results:
Of the 47 patients, 43 (91%) followed the assigned protocol; 29 (62%) used video guidance consistently. Forty-five (96%) patients felt more confident, and 40 (85%) reported higher motivation using MedicApp. All 19 patients with previous experience with home exercises preferred MedicApp over traditional methods. Most found the smartphone application easy to use. All four dentists reviewed the recordings, intervened when needed, and perceived MedicApp as helpful for supporting adherence and communication.
Conclusion:
Within the limitations of this observational exploratory study, MedicApp was perceived favorably by patients with TMDs for supporting a home exercise program. Patients reported favorable perceptions of visual guidance and remote monitoring features. These findings, related to usability and implementation, require confirmation before broader implementation can be considered.
