Smart solutions for veterans: Enhancing amputee self-care through mobile technology

Disability arising from amputation is intricately shaped by both social factors and rehabilitative care. The efficacy of veterans' self-care emerges as a pivotal factor in effectively managing, controlling, and reducing complications, thereby augmenting and enriching their overall quality of life. This research delves into the creation, execution, and assessment of a comprehensive self-care software tailored for amputees, with a focus on harnessing the practical utility of smartphones and their manifest capabilities in the realm of healthcare.

In 2023, an applied developmental study was conducted, encompassing the evaluation, design, development, implementation, and assessment of a mobile application dedicated to the self-care management of veterans with amputations. The mobile application's conception unfolded within the Android Studio environment, utilizing the Java programming language within the Android operating system. A user interface satisfaction questionnaire was used to gauge the app's usability, with feedback from 20 veterans experiencing amputations.

The needs assessment for a comprehensive self-care software tailored for amputation veterans identified requisites across four distinct sectors. Building upon these insights, a holistic self-care software solution was meticulously designed. Evaluating usability and user satisfaction revealed that veterans rated the app at a "good" level, with an average score of 7.88±1.03 (out of 9).

The mobile application proved apt in content, functionality, and quality, presenting a valuable tool for enhancing the lifestyle, education, and self-care practices of veterans with amputations. This conclusion stems from a thorough usability evaluation from the end-users' perspective.