Author Of 1 Presentation
P1023 - Early experience engaging patients in the use of a mobile application for tracking multiple sclerosis. (ID 1522)
Abstract
Background
When patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are seen only 2-3 times per year, the in-clinic interview and patient recall are the main means of capturing between-visit information on MS disease status and treatment status. Recall error and limited clinical time can diminish the quality of these data. Mobile applications have the potential to fill in the gaps with structured, quality and timely information to inform the clinical encounter. Few mobile apps have shown wide adoption. It is unclear whether patients embrace these solutions and if they provide useful data to clinicians. This pilot test assessed the adoption and usability of an MS-focused mobile app called Floodlight Open (FLO).
Objectives
Our objective was to understand the barriers and facilitators to introducing patients to the app in clinical practice, use over time, and patient and clinicians’ experience.
Methods
We piloted FLO in three neurology practices. Enrollment relied on a clinician-mediated model in which a neurologist introduced an MS patient to a researcher, who enrolled them in the study and encouraged use for at least 30 days. We modified the enrollment process mid-way to demonstrate the assessments in the app. Usage data were complemented by patients and clinician interviews.
Results
Initially we recruited 50 patients, 46% of whom used the app. Female users were 78%. The average use was 30 days over the first 60 days from enrollment; 30% of patients contributed 30+ days of data. Patients over 35 years of age contributed the most and the 25-34 age group contributed the least data. After the protocol change, 46 patients were recruited, 48% of whom used the app. 86% of users were female. The average use was 31 days; 23% patients contributed 30+ days of data. Patients in the 45-64 age group were most likely to be persistent users and the 35-44 age group were the least persistent user. Qualitative results indicate that: 1) patient participation is strongly driven by willingness to help research, 2) patients perceive a trade-off between effort to use the app and its value in an encounter, 3) physician use of the data motivates patient app use, 4) reminders are important to ongoing use.
Conclusions
Physician’s endorsement is influential and helps initial uptake, as does a patient’s desire to participate in research. Routine use of data by physicians in the encounter is important to motivate patients to use a mobile app longer term and outside of a research context.