Features of the Development of a Mobile Application for Cardiac Patients

BACKGROUND: An important global public health problem in many economically developed countries, in particular in Kazakhstan, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), both in urban and rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop the design of a mobile application for smartphones for cardiac patients, taking into account the specifics of outpatient care. METHODS: This methodological study includes identified educational and prevention content for CVD patients to develop an education and monitoring tool using a smartphone app. The application was developed according to the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation, which is a systematic training model of design. The levels of satisfaction with the developed application for smartphones among 65 outpatients with CVD were assessed using a questionnaire during their visit to a medical organization. RESULTS: The «My Heart» smartphone app was developed based on a review of the literature related to educating patients with CVD, consulting specialists, monitoring and searching for medical smartphone applications that are already available. The content of education and registration includes three main sections, containing basic questions on registration and monitoring of the condition, materials on education and prevention of CVD, such as a daily questionnaire and nutritional advice. After modification based on expert feedback, the application was finally developed and evaluated by patients who reported being satisfied with the usefulness of the application. CONCLUSIONS: This application is developed as a research tool to further conduct a study in CVD patients. Current evaluation was a pilot testing wherein this application showed promising results.