June 2022
Volume 63, Issue 7
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2022
Needs Assessment for the Development of a Patient-Centered Smartphone App for Uveitis
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Arthur Yukuang Chang
    Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Tala Al-Khaled
    Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Monique Munro
    Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Grace Dyer
    Innovation Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Rachel Grecky
    Innovation Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Donald Bergh
    Innovation Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Ann-Marie Lobo
    Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Pooja Bhat
    Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Arthur Chang None; Tala Al-Khaled None; Monique Munro None; Grace Dyer None; Rachel Grecky None; Donald Bergh None; Ann-Marie Lobo None; Pooja Bhat None
  • Footnotes
    Support  1) P30 EY001792, 2) Unrestricted departmental funding from Research to Prevent Blindness
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2022, Vol.63, 3942 – A0485. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      Arthur Yukuang Chang, Tala Al-Khaled, Monique Munro, Grace Dyer, Rachel Grecky, Donald Bergh, Ann-Marie Lobo, Pooja Bhat; Needs Assessment for the Development of a Patient-Centered Smartphone App for Uveitis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):3942 – A0485.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : To assess the unmet needs of inflammatory eye disease patients and their caregivers, with a goal towards developing a patient-centered smartphone application (app) for learning about and managing uveitis.

Methods : Prospective cross-sectional survey of uveitis patients and their caregivers. The data collected included: demographic information, time since diagnosis, educational level, smartphone ownership/use, smartphone type, use of health apps, interest in a uveitis app, current modalities for learning about uveitis, understanding and desired information about uveitis, challenges of being a uveitis patient/caregiver, current challenges in disease management, and the relative importance of a variety of possible app features.

Results : 79 completed surveys were collected from 74 patients and 5 caregivers. Among the respondents, 60% were female, 44.7% were Black or African American, and a majority (80%) of patients were aged between 30-74 years. 66% were uveitis patients or caregivers for less than 5 years, 92% used a smartphone regularly, and 97% expressed interest in a smartphone app for uveitis patients. While 60% of respondents reported having health-related apps on their phones, 58% did not use them regularly, and 85% did not currently use any smartphone apps to manage or learn about uveitis. Important features of a potential smartphone app for patients and caregivers included educational materials about uveitis (96%), accessibility considerations such as text size and text-to-voice features (95%), as well as reminders for appointments (67%), medications (89%) and lab work/blood tests (94%). Challenges faced by patients and caregivers included those related to ocular symptoms, understanding of the disease process, transportation, and the associated psychiatric burden. Patients and caregivers generally reported a moderate understanding of the disease process (55%) but a good understanding of uveitis treatment (81%) and the importance of follow-up testing (90%).

Conclusions : There is an unmet need for a patient-centered smartphone app for uveitis, featuring understandable educational content, reminders for appointments and medications, and a customizable interface to accommodate vision changes. Patients and caregivers who are motivated to seek information about uveitis, including newer patients or those with lower understanding about the disease, could especially benefit from a dedicated uveitis app.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

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