A Mobile App Directory of Occupational Therapists Who Provide Home Modifications: Development and Preliminary Usability Evaluation.
An Thi Nguyen, Emily Kling Somerville, Sandra Martina Espín-Tello and 2 others
PMID 32224486WHAT IT FOUND
OTs rated a prototype home-modification referral app useful and easy to use.
Older adults varied, and two completed no tasks. It is not shown to improve access.
Key findings
01OTs rated the app 91.7 out of 100 for usability, and their average task completion was 93%.
02Older adults' average usability rating was 71.7, and two older adults completed no tasks.
03The prototype directory contained referral information for 101 occupational therapists who provide home modifications.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The usability test included only 6 older adults and 6 occupational therapists. All participants were female, and the authors say the sample was nonrepresentative and overrepresented people with at least high school education. Older adults self-reported no health concerns affecting app use, and two who struggled were excluded from average speed but included in other results. The app was tested once, on one tablet, in homes and workplaces rather than a standard setting, and it measured usability, not health or access outcomes. One researcher coded the qualitative data, although the authors say two coders are suggested for trustworthiness.
Declared interests
The paper reports that AN developed the initial prototype under the supervision of ES, ST, MK, and SS. No other conflicts are listed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that the app improves access to home modifications. It was a small usability test of a prototype, and the authors say impact on access still needs study.