A mHealth Application for Chronic Wound Care: Findings of a User Trial

Marcia R. Friesen, Carole Hamel and Robert D. McLeod
Additional contact information
Marcia R. Friesen: Design Engineering, University of Manitoba, E2-262 EITC, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5V6, Canada
Carole Hamel: Riverview Health Centre, 1 Morley Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2P4, Canada
Robert D. McLeod: Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Manitoba, E2-390 EITC, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5V6, Canada

IJERPH, 2013, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This paper reports on the findings of a user trial of a mHealth application for pressure ulcer (bedsore) documentation. Pressure ulcers are a leading iatrogenic cause of death in developed countries and significantly impact quality of life for those affected. Pressure ulcers will be an increasing public health concern as the population ages. Electronic information systems are being explored to improve consistency and accuracy of documentation, improve patient and caregiver experience and ultimately improve patient outcomes. A software application was developed for Android Smartphones and tablets and was trialed in a personal care home in Western Canada. The software application provides an electronic medical record for chronic wounds, replacing nurses’ paper-based charting and is positioned for integration with facility’s larger eHealth framework. The mHealth application offers three intended benefits over paper-based charting of chronic wounds, including: (1) the capacity for remote consultation (telehealth between facilities, practitioners, and/or remote communities), (2) data organization and analysis, including built-in alerts, automatically-generated text-based and graph-based wound histories including wound images, and (3) tutorial support for non-specialized caregivers. The user trial yielded insights regarding the software application’s design and functionality in the clinical setting, and highlighted the key role of wound photographs in enhancing patient and caregiver experiences, enhancing communication between multiple healthcare professionals, and leveraging the software’s telehealth capacities.

Keywords: pressure ulcers; chronic wounds; eHealth; mHealth; telehealth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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