Currently submitted to: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Apr 30, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: May 6, 2026 - Jul 1, 2026
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EpiRate – Development and usability evaluation of a web-based verified feedback system for assistive technologies in epilepsy
ABSTRACT
Background:
At present, patients, caregivers, and doctors lack information to choose the most effective assistive technologies (ATs) for people with chronic conditions. This is also true for epilepsy where studies have shown that lack of information about these tools is a major barrier to wider adoption.
Objective:
The aim of the present study is to describe the development and evaluation of EpiRate, a feedback system for ATs for people with epilepsy.
Methods:
In the development phase, qualitative methods were used to determine user requirements and iteratively improve prototypes of the feedback system. In the evaluation phase, a quantitative usability study with 146 participants with epilepsy was conducted. Usability was assessed using established questionnaires measuring first impression, perceived usability (PWU-G), and visual aesthetics (VisAWI-S), and results were compared across devices (smartphone, laptop/desktop, tablet).
Results:
Formative feedback from potential users and domain experts indicated the need for a multidimensional feedback system incorporating diverging perspectives — of users, caregivers and clinicians — with the possibility of open-ended comments per rating category. The summative evaluation showed good usability across all measures (PWU-G: M=5.40; VisAWI-S: M=5.37; First impression: M=5.32, all on a 7-point scale), with an average task completion time of approximately two minutes. Usability ratings were consistently positive across devices, with only minor differences between smartphone, laptop and tablet users. The four-category rating structure (usability, functionality, reliability and overall impression) was rated as ideal by 86% of participants.
Conclusions:
EpiRate is an easy-to-use, cross-device web platform for collecting verified AT feedback from people with epilepsy. The software is published under an open-source licence and can be adapted for use in other clinical populations.
Citation
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