Coproduction and Usability of a Smartphone App for Falls Reporting in Parkinson Disease

Jill Wales, Jason Moore, Jenni Naisby, Natasha Ratcliffe, Gill Barry, Annee Amjad, Alan Godfrey, Gerry Standerline, Elaine Webster, Rosie Morris*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
27 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to coproduce a smart-phone application for digital falls reporting in people with Parkinson disease (PD) and to determine usability using an explanatory mixed-methods approach.

Methods
This study was undertaken in 3 phases. Phase 1 was the development phase, in which people with PD were recruited as co-researchers to the project. The researchers, alongside a project advisory group, coproduced the app over 6 months. Phase 2 was the implementation phase, in which 15 people with PD were invited to test the usability of the app. Phase 3 was the evaluation phase, in which usability was assessed using the systems usability scale by 2 focus groups with 10 people with PD from phase 2.

Results
A prototype was successfully developed by researchers and the project advisory group. The usability of the app was determined as good (75.8%) by people with PD when rating using the systems usability scale. Two focus groups (n = 5 per group) identified themes of 1) usability, 2) enhancing and understanding management of falls, and 3) recommendations and future developments.

Conclusions
A successful prototype of the iFall app was developed and deemed easy to use by people with PD. The iFall app has potential use as a self-management tool for people with PD alongside integration into clinical care and research studies.

Impact
This is the first digital outcome tool to offer reporting of falls and near-miss fall events. The app may benefit people with PD by supporting self-management, aiding clinical decisions in practice, and providing an accurate and reliable outcome measure for future research.

Lay summary
A smartphone application designed in collaboration with people who have PD to record their falls was acceptable and easy to use by people with PD.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberpzad076
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalPhysical Therapy
Volume104
Issue number2
Early online date27 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2024

Keywords

  • Accidental Falls
  • App
  • Co-Production
  • Digital Measurement Tool
  • Usability

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