Subjects with osteoarthritis can easily use a handheld touch screen electronic device to report medication use: qualitative results from a usability study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and conditions information (N=9)

	n
Sex
Male	5
Female	4
Age (years)
Mean	60.4
Range	49–80
Spanish/Hispanic/Latino
No	8
Yes	1
Race
White	4
Black/African American	5
Education
Some high school	1
High school graduate/GED	3
Some college/technical degree/AA	5
Annual household income
Less than $20,000	6
Between $20,000 and $49,999	2
Between $50,000 and $99,999	1
Occupational status
Homemaker	1
Unemployed	1
On disability	3
Employed full-time	2
Employed part-time	2
Relationship status
Never married	4
Married	1
Living with a partner (committed relationship)	1
Divorced	3
Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have rheumatoid arthritis?
Yes	3
No	6

Abbreviations: GED, General Educational Development; AA, Associate of Arts.

Table 2 General technology use information (N=9)

	n
Do you have a smartphone?
Yes	4
No	5
How frequently do you use email?
Daily	2
Weekly	2
Monthly	0
I have used it, but do not recall when	1
I do not use email	4
Do you have internet access available at home?
Yes, wireless internet (Wi-Fi)	3
Yes, other internet access (not Wi-Fi)	2
Other internet access	0
No, I do not have internet access available at home	4
How frequently do you use the internet?
Daily	3
Weekly	1
Monthly	0
I have used it, but do not recall when	0
I do not use the internet	5
Do you have a computer (eg, laptop, desktop, tablet) at home?
Yes	5
No	4
What device do you most commonly use to browse/use the internet?
Computer (laptop, desktop)	3
Computer tablet (iPad, Kindle Fire)	0
Smartphone	0
Multiple devices	1
I do not use the internet	5

Table 3 Familiarity and confidence with touch screen devices (N=9)

	n
How familiar are you with touch screen devices?
Very familiar	0
Moderately familiar	3
A little familiar	3
Not familiar	3
How confident are you with touch screen devices?
Very confident	0
Moderately confident	3
A little confident	4
Not confident	2

Table 4 Usability testing of the General Symptom Questionnaire on LogPad^® LW (N=9)

	n
Would you say that after this brief training you know how to use the LogPad properly?
No	0
Yes	6
Somewhat	3
•Not really, I would have to… well yes I think I did because you pressed the button and I went ahead and did everything else so I think I would be able to learn it.
•If I had to.
•Somewhat.
Did you understand the instructions on the LogPad?
No	0
Yes	8
Somewhat	1
•Somewhat.  [Interviewer: What was not clear?] I think the question about fatigue was a little vague.  [Interviewer: How could you think of improving that?] I think the question should be more of degree of pain that I experience rather than overall tiredness.
Did you consider this brief training difficult or easy?
Difficult	0
Easy	9
Could you have completed the questionnaires on the device without any help?
No	2
•No. [Interviewer: Why not?] This is all new to me.
•No.  [Interviewer: So you don’t think you could have done it if I wasn’t here?] No.  [Interviewer: What would help you to understand if you had to fill it out on your own?] Instructions.  [Interviewer: The instructions on the screen weren’t enough for you?] Yeah they were.  [Interviewer: But you said you couldn’t do it if I wasn’t here?] In case something went wrong.
Yes	3
Probably/maybe	4
•I don’t know, maybe I could. I would say maybe. This is my first time.
•No I don’t think so. I would have to see how to turn it on and set it up, I think so, it might take me a little while but I think I might be able to do it.
•Probably.
•I need a little help.  [Interviewer: What would you need help with?] Just to get started.
Were the screens on the LogPad easy to use?
No	0
Yes	9
Was it difficult or easy to understand what to do next?
Difficult	0
Easy	9
If you were at home completing a daily diary, would you find it easy or difficult to use the LogPad?
Difficult	0
Easy	9
Would you like the ability to turn a reminder alarm on or off?
No	0
Yes	9
If educational material were available on this device, would you access it?
No	0
Yes	8
Probably	1
•Probably.

Table 5 Usability performance of the ERT Medication Module™ on LogPad^® LW (N=9)

	n
After completing this medication diary, do you feel that you would be able to record your medications on the LogPad?
No	0
Yes	9
Did you understand the instructions on the LogPad?
No	0
Mostly	1
•Mostly, yes.  [Interviewer: What do you mean, “mostly”?] I had to read one of them twice.  [Interviewer: So it wasn’t clear?] It was clear after I read it the second time.
Yes	8
Did you consider this diary difficult or easy?
Difficult	0
Easy	9
Could you have completed the diary without help?
No	0
Somewhat/Probably	2
•I am going to probably say somewhat.    [Interviewer: Why do you say that?] It is my first time but like I said it is very self explanatory so I could probably do it by myself.  •Without you, no. I don’t think so, I might need to ask certain questions. You mean like if I could have did (sic) the questions without asking you?    [Interviewer: The questions without me.] A little bit.
Yes	7
Were the screens easy to use?
No	0
Yes	9
Was it difficult or easy to understand what to do next?
Difficult	0
Had one issue	1
•Only when I got to the medication dose. When you saw the arrows there was one pointing up and one pointing down I knew I had to hit the one pointing up because I wanted to put one. I didn’t want to put zero but I imagine you had to tap it twice if you wanted to take two. I figured that out in my head so that was fine. That would have been a little confusing.
Easy	8
After completing the medication diary, do you think you could accurately answer the questions in the study?
No	0
Yes	9

Abbreviation: ERT, eResearch Technologies Inc.

Table 6 Usability testing of the LogPad^® LW (N=9)

	n
Did you experience any physical discomfort when using the LogPad?
No	9
Yes	0
If you had to carry this device with you and complete a diary outside of the home, would you be able to carry this device with you?
No	0
Yes	9
Would you be bothered by the size of this device?
No	8
Yes	0
No, but it could be lighter	1
• No. It’s cute. A little heavy though, can we make it a little lighter. Maybe the case got it heavier. It could be a little lighter.
Would you be willing to use the LogPad in public?
No	1
• I don’t think so.  [Interviewer: Why not?] I think somebody would take it from me. Security reasons.
Yes	8
After completing this training module, do you think you could accurately answer questions in a clinical trial, using the LogPad?
No	0
Yes	9