Development of a Mobile-accessible Web Application in Wound Management: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: With the development of technology, new applications have started to deliver health services. These applications, which are described as mobile health applications, provide a systematic approach to managing chronic wounds and increase patients' quality of life and their compliance with treatment. In this direction, the study was carried out to develop an application that can be used by patients and healthcare professionals in chronic wound management.Material and Method: To develop the application, first of all, the user panels and their contents were drafted, and the servers and infrastructure works were started. Interfaces were developed based on the page designs created, and separate pages were designed for patients and healthcare personnel. After the development of the main operation and management platform, the definition of services, the editing of image processing features, and the security tests, the mobile application was made ready for use. In the pilot study, eight patients with diabetic foot wounds were followed up with the application used on Android systems via web browsers, both tablets, and smartphones, via mobile application.Results: In the study, it was determined that both the patients followed by the wound tracking system and the health personnel using the system were satisfied with the application.Conclusion: Using mobile applications in the long-term treatment process of chronic wounds increases the patients' follow-up outside the hospital, their compliance with the treatment, and their comfort. In terms of health personnel, it also reduces the intensity and workload in the hospital and ensures that patient records are kept regularly. Patients with chronic wounds with no indication for hospitalization can be followed up with the mobile application.