Identifying user-centered content, design, and features for mobile health apps to support long-term assessment, behavioral intervention, and transitions of care in neurological rehabilitation: An exploratory study

Introduction: The use of mobile health technology has the potential to increase healthcare accessibility, promote self-management, provide education materials, and support self-monitoring of biometrics. This may be of particular benefit to those living in the community with chronic neurological conditions. The purpose of this research was to characterize perspectives of individuals with brain injury or stroke, their care partners, and neuro-rehabilitation clinicians to inform the design of mobile health app-based interventions that address the need for ongoing community-based health-related professional support. Methods: Individuals with stroke or traumatic brain injury, their care partners, and clinicians were recruited from a large university hospital with a specialized neuro-rehabilitation program. Data were collected via semi-structured focus groups and were examined using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: Five consistent themes emerged: (a) all-in-one app with customized features; (b) communication with healthcare providers; (c) cognitive strategies; (d) app accessibility; and (e) user education. The clinician focus group reiterated these consumer focus group themes, with one additional theme: (f) logistics of clinician time and effort to provide effective app-based services to patients. Conclusions: Results have directly informed the ongoing development of a community-based mobile health app intervention, and may also inform the content and design of future mHealth technological development in this population.