title: Features and usability assessment of a patient-centered mobile application (HeartMapp) for self-management of heart failure.
abstract: Mobile health technologies have emerged as a way to actively engage patients in their healthcare decision-making process. One who is well informed and motivated is thought to engage in self-management activities. Thus, the conceptual framework included "information, motivation, and behavioral change" model, with patient engagement as a mediator in the development and assessment of a mobile health application "HeartMapp" for chronic heart failure (CHF) self-management.
  
  
  
  To describe the development and features of the HeartMapp and preliminary assessment of the usability of HeartMapp.
  
  
  
  A descriptive survey design was employed. A total of 37 participants (25 patients with CHF and 12 health care workers) navigated the HeartMapp and completed self-confidence and usability questionnaires.
  
  
  
  More than half of the patients used mobile phones to obtain health information. Patients reported moderate self-confidence (mean 26.60±12.18) in using HeartMapp. One in five patients reported a lack of confidence in using the chest-worn Bluetooth device. The observational data indicated that all patients completed the task of navigating the HeartMapp with little or no help. The health care members (n=12) demonstrated high confidence in recommending HeartMapp to patients (mean 4.58±0.67) and in utilizing data from HeartMapp for clinical decision making (mean 4.50±0.67). The self-confidence and usability questionnaires showed good reliability in this sample.
  
  
  
  Having access to CHF symptom monitoring and education readily available in a mobile app may motivate individuals to engage in the prescribed self-management skills to ultimately attain desired outcomes, which warrants further exploration.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612. Electronic address: pathilin@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Ponrathi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athilingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612. Electronic address: mlabrador@usf.edu.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Labrador
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612. Electronic address: eremopla@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Frances J
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Remo
authors.affiliation: Heart Failure Service Line, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL 33606. Electronic address: lmack@tgh.org.
authors.forename: Laureen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612. Electronic address: mejia@mail.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Alyanna Bianca
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: San Juan
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida. Electronic address: aelliott@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Amanda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012648:Self Care
keywords: Heart failure; HeartMapp usability; IMB model; Mobile application; Patient engagement; Self-management