Smart solutions for veterans: Enhancing amputee self-care through mobile technology

Abstract

Introduction: Disability arising from amputation is intricately shaped by both social factors and rehabilitative care. The efficacy of veterans' self-care emerges as a pivotal factor in effectively managing, controlling, and reducing complications, thereby augmenting and enriching their overall quality of life. This research delves into the creation, execution, and assessment of a comprehensive self-care software tailored for amputees, with a focus on harnessing the practical utility of smartphones and their manifest capabilities in the realm of healthcare. Material and Methods: In 2023, an applied developmental study was conducted, encompassing the evaluation, design, development, implementation, and assessment of a mobile application dedicated to the self-care management of veterans with amputations. The mobile application's conception unfolded within the Android Studio environment, utilizing the Java programming language within the Android operating system. A user interface satisfaction questionnaire was used to gauge the app's usability, with feedback from 20 veterans experiencing amputations. Results: The needs assessment for a comprehensive self-care software tailored for amputation veterans identified requisites across four distinct sectors. Building upon these insights, a holistic self-care software solution was meticulously designed. Evaluating usability and user satisfaction revealed that veterans rated the app at a "good" level, with an average score of 7.88±1.03 (out of 9). Conclusion: The mobile application proved apt in content, functionality, and quality, presenting a valuable tool for enhancing the lifestyle, education, and self-care practices of veterans with amputations. This conclusion stems from a thorough usability evaluation from the end-users' perspective. © 2023, Published by Frontiers in Health Informatics.