Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage
Abstract This study developed and evaluated a mobile health (mHealth) application for prehospital triage. The effective triage of undifferentiated patients is crucial for appropriate prehospital care and mHealth applications offer potential support by classifying patient conditions prior to hospital...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06952-4 |
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| _version_ | 1849238400800915456 |
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| author | Elham Asadiara Hassan Emami Mehdi Safari Reza Rabiei |
| author_facet | Elham Asadiara Hassan Emami Mehdi Safari Reza Rabiei |
| author_sort | Elham Asadiara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study developed and evaluated a mobile health (mHealth) application for prehospital triage. The effective triage of undifferentiated patients is crucial for appropriate prehospital care and mHealth applications offer potential support by classifying patient conditions prior to hospital arrival. This two-stage applied study, conducted in 2023, began with determining functional requirements through a literature review and a questionnaire-based survey, informed by existing guidelines. A conceptual model was then developed using Microsoft Visio 2021. The application then was developed using Android Studio in Java and Kotlin languages. In the second stage, the application’s usability was evaluated by involving 32 paramedics and EMT technicians through using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). Key application features included comprehensive information forms, triage level calculation based on the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), hospital navigation, and structured case report generation. Ease of use received the highest score (4.35 ± 0.47), while interface and satisfaction obtained the lowest scored (3.84 ± 0.79). Overall user satisfaction was high (4.12 ± 0.59; Max: 5.00). Results suggest that this mHealth application can effectively support prehospital care by addressing user needs and providing essential functionalities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b1868de67bd543789e2d0e653ae8aeb6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b1868de67bd543789e2d0e653ae8aeb62025-08-20T04:01:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-06952-4Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triageElham Asadiara0Hassan Emami1Mehdi Safari2Reza Rabiei3Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract This study developed and evaluated a mobile health (mHealth) application for prehospital triage. The effective triage of undifferentiated patients is crucial for appropriate prehospital care and mHealth applications offer potential support by classifying patient conditions prior to hospital arrival. This two-stage applied study, conducted in 2023, began with determining functional requirements through a literature review and a questionnaire-based survey, informed by existing guidelines. A conceptual model was then developed using Microsoft Visio 2021. The application then was developed using Android Studio in Java and Kotlin languages. In the second stage, the application’s usability was evaluated by involving 32 paramedics and EMT technicians through using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). Key application features included comprehensive information forms, triage level calculation based on the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), hospital navigation, and structured case report generation. Ease of use received the highest score (4.35 ± 0.47), while interface and satisfaction obtained the lowest scored (3.84 ± 0.79). Overall user satisfaction was high (4.12 ± 0.59; Max: 5.00). Results suggest that this mHealth application can effectively support prehospital care by addressing user needs and providing essential functionalities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06952-4Medical emergency serviceEmergency carePrehospital triagemHealthUsability testing |
| spellingShingle | Elham Asadiara Hassan Emami Mehdi Safari Reza Rabiei Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage Scientific Reports Medical emergency service Emergency care Prehospital triage mHealth Usability testing |
| title | Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage |
| title_full | Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage |
| title_fullStr | Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage |
| title_short | Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for prehospital triage |
| title_sort | development and usability evaluation of a mhealth application for prehospital triage |
| topic | Medical emergency service Emergency care Prehospital triage mHealth Usability testing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06952-4 |
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