Usability testing of tablet-based cognitive behavioral intervention application to improve a simple walking activity for older adults with arthritis fatigue.
Jeungok Choi, Jean Lemieux Cody, Sarah Fiske
PMID 33714905WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with arthritis fatigue found a tablet app easy to use and helpful for planning walking, but reported trouble holding it, operating video calls, and stiff wristbands.
It shows usability issues, not that walking or fatigue improved.
Key findings
01Fifteen older adults with arthritis fatigue tested the app, and Phase I comments were 29 positive and 24 negative, with participants generally saying it was easy to use and helpful for structuring self-care.
02Participants liked video recordings and videoconferencing, but reported small icons, difficult videoconferencing, and a stiff accelerometer wristband that all participants could not put on or take off.
03Feedback led to refinements including videos shortened to 3 minutes or less, a stainless-steel stand, and a place for notes; participants also suggested a phone platform and group learning.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 15 older adults were studied, and they were mostly White, female, highly educated and already comfortable with devices, so the findings may not apply to less experienced or more diverse patients. This was a qualitative usability study, not a test of whether Tab-CBI reduced fatigue or increased walking; the authors state the effect study is the next step. Participants were recruited by convenience from a limited geographic area, and those who declined may differ from those who agreed. All participants could not put on or take off the accelerometer wristband, suggesting the device may be unusable for some people with weak hand strength.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Tab-CBI improves walking or reduces arthritis fatigue. This was a qualitative usability study of 15 older adults, and the authors state that a pilot study to examine effects is the next step.