Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Sep 15, 2020
Date Accepted: Jan 31, 2021
A smartphone app designed to empower patients to contribute towards safer surgical care: a qualitative evaluation of diverse public/patient perceptions using focus groups
ABSTRACT
Background:
MySurgery is a smartphone app designed to empower patients and their carers to contribute towards safer surgical care by following practical advice to help reduce susceptibility to error and complications.
Objective:
We sought to evaluate service-users’ perceptions of MySurgery, including its perceived acceptability, the potential barriers and facilitators to accessing and using its content, and ideas around how to facilitate its effective implementation. A secondary objective was to analyse how intended use of the app might differ for diverse patients, including seldom heard groups.
Methods:
We implemented a diversity approach to recruit participants from a range of backgrounds who had previous experience of surgery. We aimed to achieve representation from seldom heard groups, including those from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, those with a disability and those from the LGBT+ community. Three focus groups were conducted across a two-month period, during which a semi-structured protocol was followed to elicit a rich discussion around the app. The focus groups were audio recorded and a thematic analysis was carried out.
Results:
22 individuals participated in the focus groups. Fifty percent (11) were from a BAME background, 59% (13) had a disability and 36% (8) were from the LGBT+ community. There was a strong degree of support for the MySurgery app with the majority of participants agreeing that it was acceptable and appropriate in terms of content and usability, and that it would help to educate patients around how to become involved in improving safety. There was a rich discussion around the accessibility and inclusivity of the app. Specific user groups were highlighted who might face barriers in either accessing the app or acting on the advice contained within it. With regards implementation, it was agreed that use of the app should be sign-posted prior to the pre-operative appointment and that training and education should be provided for clinicians to increase awareness and buy-in. Communications about the app should make clear its scientific basis in plain English and should stress that its use is optional.
Conclusions:
MySurgery was endorsed as a powerful tool for enhancing patient empowerment and facilitating involvement of patients and their relatives directly in maintaining patient safety. The diversity approach undertaken allowed for better understanding of the needs of different population groups and highlighted opportunities for increasing accessibility of the app. Clinical Trial: N/A
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