The primary goal of the project is to develop an adapted rehabilitation program to establish a foundation for modifying the rehabilitation concept following hip replacement surgery in Germany. This will be achieved through an app-based application in combination with outpatient physiotherapy.
The development of the prototype was conducted in three phases: (1) needs assessment based on literature reviews and surveys of patients with hip osteoarthritis (preliminary study), (2) iterative development of the prototype considering the specific needs of the target group, and (3) evaluation of usability through semi-structured interviews with potential users (N = 6) and experts in the medical field (N = 4). Data collection was conducted using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.
The evaluation results show that the application features a clear and user-friendly interface, specifically tailored to the needs of older patients. The evaluation revealed high user satisfaction with the app's functionalities and usability. Experts emphasized the importance of the app's adaptability to individual needs and the necessity of strict data protection. The results suggest that the app has the potential to modernize traditional rehabilitation.
The development of a mobile and tablet-based care concept can be an effective tool to support rehabilitation following hip replacement. The positive feedback from users and experts demonstrates the app's potential to improve the quality of care. Further studies are necessary to comprehensively assess the long-term effectiveness and integration into the healthcare system.
The objective is to further develop the prototype into an app that meets the requirements of Medical Device Class 2a and is integrated into the current healthcare context in Germany. This will allow for a pilot study to assess the long-term benefits of incorporating mHealth into post-operative care for joint replacement.
Hip replacement
Mobile Health
