Evaluation of the Smartphone Application Prototype Used by Orthopaedic Physicians to Assist Patients During External Fixator Treatment

Orthopedic patients treated with external fixators need to manage such devices for adequate bone movement as well as wound care for several times a day for many weeks. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the applicability of a smartphone application prototype used by orthopaedic physicians to assist patients during external fixator treatment. A presentation of the smartphone application prototype design was performed using screens displaying information, dates and times to start and finish the treatment, including sound and vibration alarms. After approval by ethical research committee and acceptance Informer Consent, questionnaire was performed to both groups: trainee orthopedic residents (n = 24) and 10-year qualified orthopedic surgeons (n = 32) to assess software acceptability and indication following project presentation. Acceptability and indication of the application prototype by professionals in the orthopedic field was high. Comparison between the two groups of orthopaedic physicians did not show a significant difference for any of the proposed questions regarding acceptability, expected patient adherence, benefit to patients and user-friendliness (p > 0.05). Most physicians regarded the application design useful, user friendly, with possible high indication and highly beneficial to patients, with no significant difference between the two groups for any of the questions (p > 0.05).