JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Providing care to a family member or friend with a serious illness like cancer increases risk for poor physical, psychological, and functional health outcomes. Despite their critical role, family caregivers (FCGs) are rarely screened in clinical settings for the wide range of factors that may put them and the person they care for at risk for poor outcomes. Mobile health (mHealth) applications can efficiently facilitate access to high-quality health information for FCGs; however, few are clinically integrated.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the usability of CareCheck, an mHealth-based digital risk screening tool designed to enable family caregivers' self-awareness of potential caregiving-related risks for adverse health and psychosocial outcomes and to support health care professionals in personalizing interventions that address FCGs' specific risk factors.

Methods:

This usability study of CareCheck was conducted between June and August 2023 at a large academic medical center, using two evaluation methods: quantitative measurement with a modified 5-item Mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) and exploratory qualitative content analysis based on feedback from FCGs and trained staff. FCGs of patients seen in gynecologic oncology care settings were recruited through two pathways: a convenience sample of caregivers approached in the outpatient clinic waiting area, and caregivers receiving support through the institution's Gynecologic Oncology Family Caregiver Advocacy, Research, and Education (CARE) Center. Participants completed CareCheck and the usability questionnaire via a tablet-based mHealth app, with an interview-administered option available for those who were assessed via telephone. Trained staff from the CARE Center held a dual role in the study: they helped administer CareCheck to FCGs, and they also participated as respondents themselves, offering their own perspectives on CareCheck's clinical usability and workflow fit, which were analyzed alongside FCG data.

Results:

A convenience sample of 56 FCGs and 2 trained staff participated in the usability study. Of the 56 CGs, 54 completed the usability questionnaire; the mean MAUQ score was 6.49 (SD = 1.06) out of 7, indicating high usability. Qualitative analysis identified recommendations in three categories: 1) Improvements to CareCheck ; 2) Perceptions of CareCheck’s Usability and Functionality, and 3) Clinical Implementation Considerations for CareCheck.

Conclusions:

FCGs and staff found CareCheck to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. While further iterations are needed to refine content and optimize integration with clinical workflows, CareCheck demonstrated potential as a clinically integrated tool for identifying and addressing FCG risk for poor social, psychological, or health outcomes in gynecologic oncology care settings.