User acceptance of a mobile application prototyping model for supporting pressure injury treatment at home care

Abstract

　This study aimed to evaluate user acceptance of a Japan-adjusted home-care-based Pressure Injury Treatment Support prototyping mobile application (PITS-pa) developed by an industry. PITS-pa has the following features: wound photo taking, wound assessment, data entry of therapeutic plan/comments, display of products formulary for topical agent/dressing selection, and sharing of information between healthcare professionals. After applying PITS-pa to an individual with pressure injury for 24 weeks at a home setting, a physician (wound care specialist who worked at homebased care) qualitatively assessed the tool′s user acceptance. One possible advantage of PITS-pa is the simplicity of wound assessment. Its disadvantages were inconvenience in product recommendation features, too many input data, too much time needed in using multiple applications for similar purposes, and not the latest wound assessment tool applied. In addition, access to the advice of pressure injury treatment specialists needs to be improved. In conclusion, more revision of PITS-pa and strategic planning for the adaptation are required to enhance its user acceptance by clinical wound specialists at home-based care settings.