An mHealth Platform for Supporting Clinical Data Integration into Augmentative and Alternative Communication Service Delivery: User-Centered Design and Usability Evaluation.
Erh-Hsuan Wang, Leming Zhou, Szu-Han Kay Chen and 2 others
PMID 30042092WHAT IT FOUND
Ten speech-language pathology participants rated a new AAC app and web portal 4.28 out of 5 for ease and efficiency, and 90% preferred it for clinical data collection.
The study used simulated data, not patient outcomes.
Key findings
01Five SLPs interviewed said current AAC data collection approaches were unsatisfactory and wanted real-time transmission of patient data to clinicians.
02In a usability study with 10 speech-language pathology participants, the Web portal received an overall ease and efficiency score of 4.28 and a posttask satisfaction score of 4.18 on 5-point scales.
03When participants compared three AAC data collection approaches, 90% preferred the integrated mobile app plus Web portal, and 100% said it was the most automatic.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The usability evaluation included 10 speech-language pathology participants, not patients using AAC in daily life. The portal was tested with simulated data, so participants did not see real-time changes from actual patient use. The study measured usability and preference, not communication outcomes or whether treatment plans improved. Some language data management still needed manual handling, which received lower ease and efficiency scores. Participants were asked to choose a preferred approach rather than rate each approach, so the comparison gives percentages but not how much better each platform is. The sample included graduate students, so it is not only experienced clinicians.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this platform improves communication outcomes. It was tested for usability with 10 speech-language pathology participants using simulated data, not with patients receiving AAC treatment.