Use of an iPad App (Aid for Decision-making in Occupational Choice) for Collaborative Goal Setting in Interprofessional Rehabilitation: Qualitative Descriptive Study.
Carla Strubbia, William Mm Levack, Rebecca Grainger and 2 others
PMID 34792475WHAT IT FOUND
Patients and therapists found an iPad app useful for discussing rehabilitation goals, but time constraints and lack of printed materials limited its use.
The app helped patients visualize possibilities but was deemed too long for acute settings.
Key findings
01Patients and health professionals generally viewed the app positively for facilitating goal-setting conversations and helping patients understand rehabilitation possibilities.
02Major barriers to implementation included the time required to use the app, lack of access to iPads, and the absence of printed guides or hard-copy goal lists.
03The app's content was criticized for lacking impairment-specific goals (like pain or memory) and for images that did not reflect the ethnic diversity of the local patient population.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (8 professionals, 8 patients), limiting the transferability of findings. The study was exploratory and did not measure clinical outcomes or treatment effects. Participants were likely those already positive about technology, introducing potential selection bias. The app was tested in acute inpatient settings, which may not reflect its utility in community or outpatient rehabilitation.
Declared interests
One author (K Tomori) is the director of the ADOC Project, which manages the app used in the study. The authors state they receive no pecuniary benefit from sales, as income is used for software maintenance and development.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that the app improves patient outcomes or clinical efficiency. The study only explored user experiences and identified significant barriers, such as time consumption and logistical issues, which may prevent successful implementation in busy acute settings.