Authors (including presenting author) :
Yee KH(1), Choi TL(1), Lam YT(1), Law WY(1), Wong SW(1), Lo KM(1), Mak CH(1)(2), Chan YY(1)(2), Carey Poon(1)(3), Charles Lam(1)(3), Fan CH(4), Ong MTY (1), Yung PSH (1)
Affiliation :
(1)Joint Replacement Centre, NTEC, (2)Physiotherapy Department, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, (3)Occupational Therapy Department, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, (4)OrthoCentre
Introduction :
Total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty are the most effective treatment for patients with end-stage hip and knee osteoarthritis. As in most developed countries, there is an increasing tendency for fast-track surgery with a decreased length of stay. The downside is the potential less support available to the patients in the perioperative period. In this context, technological advancement may fill in the gap and support home-based programs. Mobile health defines the support and practice of health care using mobile devices. There are currently no other mobile apps specifically designed for arthroplasty patients in Hong Kong.
Objectives :
JR Care App serves to empower and support our patients throughout the joint replacement journey, from the pre-operative phase to rehabilitation and even lifelong as a memoir of patients’ experiences. Tele-rehabilitation with mobile health supplements existing service models to enhance the quality of care.
Methodology :
JR Care App was designed using an interactive user-centered design process. The development of the app is based on a deficiency list of conventional care. JR Care App provides patients with an electronic logbook on their diseased joint and allows patients to create their joint replacement profile, rehabilitation diary on functional capacity and pain intensity. Educational knowledge which was supplied in text and video format on perioperative preparation and postoperative rehabilitation complemented existing home-based rehabilitation. It also helps patients effectively monitor and review their status and progress in the rehabilitation phase. A questionnaire was administered to user patients on the usability and information quality of the app.
Result & Outcome :
Since its launch in April 2021, there were 1428 installations recorded up to the end of Oct 2022, involving >80% of our arthroplasty patients. 87% of the app users were above 60 years old. 85% of users interviewed agreed that the installation process was easy, and 40% of the patients did not need help from family or healthcare workers on app installation. 95% of users thought the app is useful and would recommend it to others. 95% of users were satisfied with the app. JR Care App was rolled out in the whole NTEC cluster in Q1 2022.
