title: A User-Centred Approach to Designing an eTool for Gout Management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gout is a chronic inflammatory arthritis with increasing prevalence in Australia and rates of non-adherence to therapy higher than for any other chronic disease. Electronic health interventions can increase adherence to treatment for many chronic diseases. This study set out to involve end-user patients in the design of a gout self-management eTool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four semi-structured focus group sessions were held in July and August 2015 with 13 patients with gout (age range 39-79 years). Focus groups involved group discussions of potential eTool features and critiquing disease self-management websites and applications. Focus group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed by two independent researchers to identify useful eTool features and patient perspectives of using technology to manage their health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were open to using a supportive gout self-management eTool and identified a number of potentially helpful features, including educational material, serum uric acid monitoring and medication reminder alerts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focus groups with patients with gout revealed a number of features that should be included in a gout self-management eTool. These results will inform the design and implementation of an eTool for patients with gout and may be broadly applicable to teams designing eTools for other chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernon
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Systems & Safety Research, Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baysari
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D017144:Focus Groups; D006073:Gout / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073278:Self-Management / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*