Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: May 8, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: May 12, 2018 - Jul 7, 2018
Date Accepted: Dec 30, 2018
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Development of a smartphone application for informal carers of people with cancer: processes and learnings
ABSTRACT
Background:
There are few support systems available to informal carers who provide care to cancer patients. Smartphone applications have the capacity to reach large audiences and can provide information and support at a time convenient to carers.
Objective:
To describe the process of developing and designing a smartphone application prototype for carers of adults with cancer involving focus groups and interviews with present and past carers, to understand their information and supportive care needs. Carers' willingness to use a smartphone application as part of an information and support mechanism was also explored.
Methods:
Carers were recruited from a public hospital, a private hospital and a carer organisation and participated in either a focus group or phone interview. Carers answered questions about: their caregiving experience, supportive care needs and items to include in an application to address needs identified. Based on carers' feedback a smartphone app was designed and tested. Beta testing was conducted using a convenience sample of participants who completed scenarios to inform the application's design, functionality and usability. Scenarios were timed and marked as complete or incomplete. Participants completed a questionnaire about the useability of the app. Beta testing occurred in two stages: a paper-based version of the app and an app-based test using participants' preferred device. Alpha testing was completed internally to ensure the functionality of the app.
Results:
33 carers participated in phone interviews and 12 in focus groups, their average age was 55 (SD 14) and 60% were female. Carers noted that smartphone technology may improve their ability to seek information and support in managing their own health as well as the care needs of the person with cancer. Carers requested a variety of resources including information, support services and features such as reminders, notepads and calendars. Paper-based testing: Participants were aged <30 (30%), 30-49 (30%) and 50+ (40%) and 60% were male. Participants found the app user-friendly and pleasing in appearance. Navigation was unclear within three of the headings. Headings and contents were reorganised to improve useability. App-based testing: Participants were aged <30 (20%), 30-49 (30%) and 50+ (50%) and 50% were male. Participants reported the app user-friendly and easy to navigate. The majority (60%) of participants were unable to create a shortcut icon to add the app to the home screen of their phone. Video instructions were created to assist with downloading and navigation for those with less confidence in using apps. Google Analytics was modified to provide accurate usage data.
Conclusions:
Carers require information and support during the caring period. The Carer Guide Application was created to assist them during their time of caring. Further testing is required to assess how carers will receive and use the app on a day-to-day basis.
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.