Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability

A novel mobile health platform, Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation (iMHere), is being developed to support wellness and self-management among people with chronic disabilities. The iMHere system currently includes a smartphone app with six modules for use by persons with disabilities and a...

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Main Authors: Andrea D. Fairman, Erika T. Yih, Daniel F. McCoy, Edmund F. LoPresti, Michael P. McCue, Bambang Parmanto, Brad E. Dicianno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hawaii Pacific University Library 2016-07-01
Series:International Journal of Telerehabilitation
Online Access:http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6194
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author Andrea D. Fairman
Erika T. Yih
Daniel F. McCoy
Edmund F. LoPresti
Michael P. McCue
Bambang Parmanto
Brad E. Dicianno
author_facet Andrea D. Fairman
Erika T. Yih
Daniel F. McCoy
Edmund F. LoPresti
Michael P. McCue
Bambang Parmanto
Brad E. Dicianno
author_sort Andrea D. Fairman
collection DOAJ
description A novel mobile health platform, Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation (iMHere), is being developed to support wellness and self-management among people with chronic disabilities. The iMHere system currently includes a smartphone app with six modules for use by persons with disabilities and a web portal for use by medical and rehabilitation professionals or other support personnel. Our initial clinical research applying use of this system provides insight into the feasibility of employing iMHere in the development of self-management skills in young adults (ages 18-40 years) with spina bifida (Dicianno, Fairman, McCue, Parmanto, Yih, et al., 2015). This article is focused on describing the iterative design of the iMHere system including usability testing of both the app modules and clinician portal. Our pilot population of persons with spina bifida fostered the creation of a system appropriate for people with a wide variety of functional abilities and needs. As a result, the system is appropriate for use by persons with various disabilities and chronic conditions, not only spina bifida. In addition, the diversity of professionals and support personnel involved in the care of persons with spina bifida (SB) also enabled the design and implementation of the iMHere system to meet the needs of an interdisciplinary team of providers who treat various conditions. The iMHere system has the potential to foster communication and collaboration among members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, including individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities, for client-centered approach to support self-management skills.
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spelling doaj-art-8e2e310651ec4e4ba3a3623e0112cd402025-08-20T02:25:48ZengHawaii Pacific University LibraryInternational Journal of Telerehabilitation1945-20202016-07-0181112010.5195/ijt.2016.61945998Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and DisabilityAndrea D. Fairman0Erika T. Yih1Daniel F. McCoy2Edmund F. LoPresti3Michael P. McCue4Bambang Parmanto5Brad E. Dicianno6MGH Institute of Health Professions (IHP), School of Health and Rehabilitation Science (SHRS), Department of Occupational TherapyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication, Pittsburgh, PAUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Science and TechnologyUniversity of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Health Information Management and Biomedical InformaticsHuman Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, Pittsburgh, PAA novel mobile health platform, Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation (iMHere), is being developed to support wellness and self-management among people with chronic disabilities. The iMHere system currently includes a smartphone app with six modules for use by persons with disabilities and a web portal for use by medical and rehabilitation professionals or other support personnel. Our initial clinical research applying use of this system provides insight into the feasibility of employing iMHere in the development of self-management skills in young adults (ages 18-40 years) with spina bifida (Dicianno, Fairman, McCue, Parmanto, Yih, et al., 2015). This article is focused on describing the iterative design of the iMHere system including usability testing of both the app modules and clinician portal. Our pilot population of persons with spina bifida fostered the creation of a system appropriate for people with a wide variety of functional abilities and needs. As a result, the system is appropriate for use by persons with various disabilities and chronic conditions, not only spina bifida. In addition, the diversity of professionals and support personnel involved in the care of persons with spina bifida (SB) also enabled the design and implementation of the iMHere system to meet the needs of an interdisciplinary team of providers who treat various conditions. The iMHere system has the potential to foster communication and collaboration among members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, including individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities, for client-centered approach to support self-management skills.http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6194
spellingShingle Andrea D. Fairman
Erika T. Yih
Daniel F. McCoy
Edmund F. LoPresti
Michael P. McCue
Bambang Parmanto
Brad E. Dicianno
Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
International Journal of Telerehabilitation
title Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
title_full Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
title_fullStr Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
title_full_unstemmed Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
title_short Iterative Design and Usability Testing of the iMHere System for Managing Chronic Conditions and Disability
title_sort iterative design and usability testing of the imhere system for managing chronic conditions and disability
url http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6194
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