Usability and feasibility of a web-based communication tool for postoperative follow-up and pain assessment at home after primary knee arthroplasty. (Preprint)

Abstract

We report the use of an electronic tool, Eir (Eir Solutions AS, Norway), for symptom registration at home after knee arthroplasty. This electronic tool was used in a randomized controlled trial comparing three different analgesic regimens with respect to postoperative pain and side effects.

The aim of the present sub-study was to investigate this electronic tool for symptom registrations at home with respect to usability, i.e. how easy it was to use, and with respect to feasibility, i.e. how well the tool served its purpose.

To assess the tool's usability, all participants were invited to fill out the ten-item System Usability Scale (SUS) after using the tool for eight days. To assess feasibility, data regarding the participants' ability to use the tool with or without assistance or reminders were collected qualitatively on daily basis during the study period.

A total of 134 patients completed the RCT. Data were collected from all 134 patients concerning feasibility of the web-based tool. The SUS form was completed by 119 of the 134 patients. 70% of the patients managed to use the tool at home without any technical support. All their technical challenges were related to the login procedure or internet access. The mean SUS-score was 89.6, median 92.5, range 22.5-100.

This study showed a high feasibility and a high usability of the Eir web tool. The received reports gave the necessary information needed for both research data and clinical follow up.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02604446