Mobile Applications for Longitudinal Data Collection: Web-based Survey Study of Former Intensive Care Patients

Purpose: Mobile health plays an important role in providing individualized information about the health status of patients. Limited information exists on intensive care unit (ICU) patients with the risk of suffering from the post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), summarizing long-term physical, mental and cognitive impairment. This web-based survey study aims to identify specific needs of former ICU patients for utilizing a newly developed, so called Post-Intensive Care Outcome Surveillance (PICOS) app to collect relevant PICS-related parameters. Methods: A prototype app was developed following interaction principles for interactive systems of usability engineering. Patients from four different German hospitals were asked about demographics, interaction with technology and their perception of the prototype regarding hedonic motivation, perceived ease of use and performance expectancy. Results: 123 patients participated in the survey; the majority owned and used smartphones. Nearly half of respondents would seek help from family members or caregivers using the app. There was a difference in affinity for technology for participants who own a smartphone and those who do not, t(116) = − 0.97, p =.335, and no significant difference in affinity for technology whether the participants would like support when using the app or not, t(97) = 1.81, p =.073. The average hedonic motivation for using the app was M = 4.44 (SD = 1.304). Conclusion: This app prototype was perceived as both beneficial and easy to use, indicating its success among former ICU patients. Due to aging and ongoing health impairments, every second patient would need assistance with the initial use of the app.