Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Apr 7, 2022
Date Accepted: Oct 24, 2022
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Web-based guidance through assisted reproductive technology (myFertiCare): a quantitative evaluation of an online application by using the HOT-fit framework
ABSTRACT
Background:
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are considered to be physically and mentally stressful. During their treatment trajectory couples express high information and communication needs. They appreciate using the Internet to obtain fertility-related information. In a previous study we developed myFertiCare, an eHealth tool providing personalized information and interactive functionalities for infertile couples in order to improve patient-centered care. The application has already been successfully evaluated qualitatively for usability.
Objective:
The aim of the current study is to evaluate quantitatively the implementation of myFertiCare by using the HOT-fit framework and to study the effects of using myFertiCare on couples’ knowledge about infertility, experienced burden of infertility and experienced patient-centered care. With these results, implementation can be further improved and patient-centered care can be enhanced.
Methods:
A quantitative study was performed based on the HOT-fit framework, using validated questionnaires focusing on the Human, Organizational en Technology domains. Questions were added on the effect of using myFertiCare on couples’ knowledge about infertility and treatment. Questions regarding burden of infertility, burden of infertility treatment, and experienced patient-centeredness were based on the main items of the validated fertiQol, and PCQ-Infertility questionnaires respectively. Also, non-users of the application were included to explore motivations for not using the application and identifying opportunities for improvement. Finally, user statistics were analyzed to provide insight into multiple variables concerning application usage.
Results:
On the human and technology domain, myFertiCare showed good system usability, high user satisfaction and high information and interface quality. On the organizational domain, implementation was considered to be sufficient by both patients and staff. Usage of the application increased knowledge about the treatment, improved coping with treatment and enhanced experienced patient-centeredness. User statistics showed that women were the main application users and that usage of the application gradually declined during the treatment trajectory.
Conclusions:
A multi-faceted online application, called myFertiCare, has been successfully evaluated quantitatively for implementation by using the HOT-fit framework. Usage of the application increased knowledge about the treatment, improved coping with treatment and enhanced experienced patient centeredness. Application use could be improved by creating more publicity. By providing myFertiCare, professionals in fertility care are supported to guide patients through their treatment trajectory and to deliver patient-centered care.
Citation
