G-2535

Mobile Health Application for Postoperative Self-Care in Glaucoma, Cataract, and Corneal Transplant Patients: Design and Evaluation of the "INOOR" App

 Hossein Valizadeh Laktarashi ¹ ℗, Amir Hossein Daeechini ², Atefeh Paghe ³, Hamid Moghaddasi ⁴ ©   

 
Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative self-care is crucial for achieving successful outcomes in ophthalmic surgeries, including glaucoma treatment, cataract extraction, and corneal transplantation. Despite its importance, many patients struggle with adherence due to limited awareness and access to reliable resources. Mobile health (mHealth) applications present a promising solution by providing personalized education and reminders. This study aimed to design and evaluate the "INOOR" mHealth application to enhance postoperative self-care for these patient groups. Methods and Materials: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1403.087). Functional requirements were identified through a literature review (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Medline) and semi-structured interviews with 15 patients (5 per surgery type). An expert panel, including ophthalmologists and medical informaticians, validated the requirements. The application was developed using Java in Android Studio, featuring patient registration, educational content (anatomy, surgical procedures, disease information), tailored self-care guidelines, and reminder systems for medications and appointments. Usability was evaluated using a 29-item checklist (KR-20 0.8) administered to 30 patients (10 per surgery type) and 5 ophthalmologists over two weeks. Scores were categorized as "Unacceptable," "Relatively Acceptable," or "Acceptable" across user interface, services, overall satisfaction, and total score. Results: The evaluation of the "INOOR" mobile health application revealed significant positive outcomes across multiple dimensions. Among the 30 patient participants (10 glaucoma, 10 cataract, and 10 corneal transplant patients), 56% were male and 44% female, with ages ranging from 45 to 66 years. Educational backgrounds varied, with 63% holding high school diplomas, 30% bachelor's degrees, and 7% master's degrees. The five ophthalmologists evaluating the application had 5-20 years of clinical experience. Quantitative analysis showed the application scored 12.43/14 (88.8%) for user interface design, indicating excellent navigability and visual appeal. The services and features received 8.96/11 (81.5%), demonstrating strong functionality in delivering medical information and reminders. Overall user satisfaction scored 3.43/4 (85.8%), culminating in a total score of 24.82/29 (85.6%), firmly placing the application in the "Acceptable" range according to predefined metrics. Conclusion and Discussion: The findings demonstrate that the "INOOR" mHealth application is an effective tool for supporting postoperative self-care in ophthalmic patients. Its high acceptability among users and clinicians highlights its potential to improve clinical outcomes and reduce complications. Future developments could include telehealth integration and compatibility with wearable devices to further enhance its functionality.

Keywords: Self-care, Mobile Health, Corneal Transplantation, Cataract, Glaucoma