Feasibility of a Mobile Application to Support Reflection and Dialog About Strengths in People With Chronic Illness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Self-management of chronic illness can be highly demanding and people need to mobilize their personal strengths in order to live well with their condition. A mobile application was designed in collaboration with people with chronic illness and health care providers with the aims to support awareness of patients' strengths and patient-provider dialogues that include strengths. The aim of the present study is to evaluate with mixed methods the perceived usefulness and usability of the application and potential effects of the application on patients.

Detailed Description
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In this pre-post design pilot study participants will be recruited from self-management courses for people with rheumatic diseases. Before using the application participants will be asked to report their strengths in a written format. After using the mobile application to reflect on their strengths the participants will be interviewed about their experience of using the application and on the task of reflecting on their strengths. They will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire on perceived usefulness and user-friendliness. Before and after using the application the participants fill out questionnaires on emotions (Positive and Negative Affective Scale) and self-efficacy (The Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale). All interviews will be audio-taped and analyzed with a qualitative approach. Descriptive analysis will be applied for quantitative data.

Official Title
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Capitalizing on the Strengths of Persons With Rheumatoid Arthritis to Improve Health and Wellness

Conditions
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Chronic Disease, Rheumatic Diseases

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Mobile application


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Setting 1: Inclusion Criteria: Age of 18 years or older Can read and speak Norwegian language Diagnosed with a chronic condition Participating or having recently participated in a learning and mastery or an outpatient rehabilitation program No exclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 100 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Device Feasibility
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be recruited to a pre-post design study.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Mobile application<br>Participants recruited from a self-management course are asked to use (single time) a mobile application to support reflection of personal strengths. The participant borrows an Ipad and uses the application to 1) reflect and identify their strengths by reviewing a list of examples, 2) define personal goals, and 3) link strengths to goals. | Device: Mobile application<br>* Use of a mobile application (on a borrowed device) with following features: 1) strengths reflection and identification, 2) summary of registered strengths, 3) defining goals, and 4) linking strengths to goals.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Perceived Usefulness of the Application | Study-specific questions on perceived usefulness of the application | Within an hour after using the application | 
| The System Usability Scale | This 10 item questionnaire measures usability. Each item has 5 response options with total score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher values represent a better outcome. | Within an hour after using the application | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. | This scale measures positive and negative affect with two subscales (positive affect and negative affect). Positive affect subscale scores can range from 10-50, with higher scores representing higher levels of positive affect. Negative affect subscale scores can range from 10-50, with lower scores representing lower levels of negative affect. | Pre-intervention and post-intervention, within an hour after using the application | 
| The Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale | This scale measures self-efficacy with two subscales with 5 response options. The pain subscale has 5 items and a score range from 0 to 20. The other symptoms subscale has 6 items and a score range from 0 to 24. Higher scores equal higher levels of self-efficacy. | Pre-intervention and post-intervention, within an hour after using the application | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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self-management, health assets, Strengths, mHealth, Feasibility