Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Aug 25, 2022
Date Accepted: Dec 31, 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Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited.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.
Use and usability of Homelab: a pilot with an online service for diagnostic tests implemented at the general practitioner
ABSTRACT
Background:
The pressure on primary care is increasing. eHealth can potentially make healthcare more accessible and efficient and help reduce the workload in primary care. Homelab is an eHealth tool implemented in the environment of the general practitioner. It offers relatively simple laboratory diagnostics to patients without having to get a referral from a general practitioner. After logging in, patients select and order a diagnostic test based on their symptoms. The test results are presented online to the general practitioner and patient.
Objective:
This study aims to evaluate the use, usability, and user characteristics of Homelab. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate whether Homelab replaces an appointment with a general practitioner.
Methods:
Homelab has been implemented since May 2021 as a pilot in a Dutch general practice. The number of requests and ordered packages was monitored. After using Homelab, patients were invited to complete a short questionnaire. The questionnaire contained demographic questions and assessed usability using the System Usability Scale-10. In addition, questions about requesting an appointment with the general practitioner without Homelab are included. All data was collected anonymously.
Results:
The questionnaire was filled in by 74 individual patients. They had a mean age of 40.33 (SD = 12.11), and half of them were female (52%). The majority were highly educated (76%) and employed (72%). Of the total population, 81 % would use Homelab again in the future, and 66% would have gone to a general practitioner if Homelab had not been available. The usability was scored higher in the younger than in the older age group (respectively M = 73.96, SD = 14.74 and M = 61.59, SD = 14.37). In total, 106 test packages were ordered over one year, and the ‘Am I still healthy?’ was the most requested diagnostic test package. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Homelab was used most often.
Conclusions:
The use of Homelab was studied. The usability of Homelab was perceived as above average. Patients were willing to use Homelab in the future and used Homelab most of the time as a replacement for regular consultations. Homelab offered opportunities for more accessible and efficient healthcare for both patients and general practitioners.
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