Open AccessSatisfaction and Usability of an Information and Communications Technology–Based System by Clinically Healthy Patients With COVID-19 and Medical Professionals: Cross-sectional Survey and Focus Group Interview Study
Author(s) -
Ye Seul Bae,
Kyung Hwan Kim,
Sae Won Choi,
Tae Sung Ko,
JunSeo Lim,
Meihua Piao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir formative research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2561-326X
DOI - 10.2196/26227
Subject(s) - usability , focus group , reimbursement , medicine , health care , telemedicine , patient satisfaction , cross sectional study , medical education , nursing , psychology , medical emergency , family medicine , computer science , business , pathology , marketing , human–computer interaction , economics , economic growth
Background Digital health care is an important strategy in the war against COVID-19. South Korea introduced living and treatment support centers (LTSCs) to control regional outbreaks and care for patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) introduced information and communications technology (ICT)–based solutions to manage clinically healthy patients with COVID-19. Objective This study aims to investigate satisfaction and usability by patients and health professionals in the optimal use of a mobile app and wearable device that SNUH introduced to the LTSC for clinically healthy patients with COVID-19. Methods Online surveys and focus group interviews were conducted to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Results Regarding usability testing of the wearable device, perceived usefulness had the highest mean score of 4.45 (SD 0.57) points out of 5. Regarding usability of the mobile app, perceived usefulness had the highest mean score of 4.62 (SD 0.48) points out of 5. Regarding satisfaction items for the mobile app among medical professionals, the “self-reporting” item had the highest mean score of 4.42 (SD 0.58) points out of 5. In focus group interviews of health care professionals, hospital information system interfacing was the most important functional requirement for ICT-based COVID-19 telemedicine. Conclusions Improvement of patient safety and reduction of the burden on medical staff were the expected positive outcomes. Stability and reliability of the device, patient education, accountability, and reimbursement issues should be considered as part of the development of remote patient monitoring. In responding to a novel contagious disease, telemedicine and a wearable device were shown to be useful during a global crisis.