Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2 School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
Abstract
Background: Mobile phone–based self-care programs are increasingly recognized as effective tools for addressing patients' educational and self-management needs. Given the complex and unique challenges faced by individuals with lower limb amputations who use prostheses, there is a need to provide accessible educational resources to enhance self-care and improve quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile phone–based self-care training program for individuals with lower limb amputations.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, 10 rehabilitation specialists participated in the expert evaluation. In the second stage, 30 individuals with lower limb amputations participated in the usability assessment. Data collection instruments included the Persian version of a smartphone application usability questionnaire for experts, the System Usability Scale (SUS) for amputees, and the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) questionnaire for amputees.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 45.37 ± 13.80 years. From the experts' perspective, the mean usability score of the smartphone application was 7.07 ± 1.15, indicating an acceptable level of usability. From the amputees' perspective, the mean System Usability Scale (SUS) score was 88.75 ± 8.27, indicating excellent usability. The overall mean score on the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) questionnaire was 4.50 ± 0.24, reflecting high levels of perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and ease of use.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the developed mobile phone–based self-care application is a feasible and highly usable tool for individuals with lower limb amputations. It has the potential to enhance self-care knowledge, support rehabilitation management after amputation, and contribute to improved quality of life and reduced amputation-related complications.
Keywords
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