JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The development of mobile interventions for non-communicable diseases has received increasing attention in recent years. However, patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and their specific requirements due to their frequently impaired ability to walk have been neglected thus far.

Objective:

In a patient-centred approach for the development of mobile interventions, we describe the needs and requirements of patients with PAD regarding the overall care situation and the use of mobile interventions to perform supervised exercise therapy (SET).

Methods:

A questionnaire survey was conducted in addition to a clinical examination at the vascular outpatient clinic of the West-German Heart and Vascular Center of the University Clinic Essen, Germany. Patients with diagnosed PAD were asked to answer questions on sociodemographic characteristics, PAD-related need for support, satisfaction with their healthcare situation, smartphone and app use and the requirements for the design of mobile interventions to support SET.

Results:

Overall, the need for better support of patients with PAD was identified. In total, 59.2% expressed their desire for more support in regard to their disease. Of the 304 participating patients with a mean age of 67 years, 51.6% were smartphone users. Interest in smartphone-supported SET was noted, even for people who did not currently use a smartphone. Among the components to design health apps to support patients with PAD, “information”, “feedback”, “choosing goals” and “interaction with physicians and therapists” were rated the most relevant.

Conclusions:

A need for support of patients with PAD, in particular with regard to disease literacy and the performance of SET, was determined. Based on a detailed description of patient characteristics, proposals for the design of mobile interventions adapted to the needs and requirements of patients can be derived.