Healthc Inform Res.  2022 Jan;28(1):77-88. 10.4258/hir.2022.28.1.77.

Development and Usability Evaluation of a Telemedicine System for Management and Monitoring of Patients with Diabetic Foot

Affiliations
  • 1Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • 2Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 3Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 4School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • 5Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • 6Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract


Objectives
The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate the usability of a telemedicine system for management and monitoring of patients with diabetic foot.
Methods
This study was conducted in four phases. In the first phase, the information needs and characteristics required to design the telemedicine system were identified based on a literature review. Then, in a two-stage Delphi survey, 15 experts approved the identified information needs and characteristics. The prototype telemedicine system was then designed. In the third phase, system usability was evaluated through a semi-structured interview. In the fourth phase, users’ satisfaction with the designed system was analyzed.
Results
Out of 115 information needs and required characteristics, 95 were considered in the system design. Eight main pages for enabling patient-physician interactions and physician-physician interactions, monitoring the patient and controlling the disease process, providing medical consultation, and prescribing medications were considered. In the third phase, 26 distinct problems were identified. However, 75% of the participants were very satisfied with the system.
Conclusions
This study presents an attempt to design and evaluate a telemedicine system for the management and monitoring of patients with diabetic foot. In this system, patients receiving medical services or physicians who encounter rare cases can send the complete medical history, clinical test results, and videos and images related to the foot to specialist physicians. After examining the medical history or images and videos, the physician can provide the necessary medication prescriptions and laboratory tests or other recommendations.

Keyword

Diabetic Foot; Ulcer; Telemedicine; Remote Consultation; Delivery of Health Care

Figure

  • Figure 1 Main page of the telemedicine system.

  • Figure 2 Flowchart of panel of patients.

  • Figure 3 Flowchart of panel of doctors.

  • Figure 4 Physician-physician interaction page.


Reference

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