Patients’ evaluation of the content, appeal and usability of a dental smart-phone application – ‘GezondeMond app.’

Abstract

Background: The Ivory Cross Association (www.Ivorenkruis.nl) developed a tailored motivational smartphone-application (app.): ‘GezondeMond’ aimed to improve oral health behaviour. The app. provides personal dental advises and reminders. The aim of this observational study was to explore patients’ evaluation of the content, appeal and usability. Methods: 76 healthy Dutch adults, visiting the dental clinic in Almere and in Rijswijk, were asked to download the app. and to fill in an online questionnaire after 6 weeks of use. Questions regarding the content, usability and appeal were extracted from existing questionnaires (Cronbach’s test: α=.79, α=.82, α=.92, respectively). Results: 79% of the patients downloaded the app. of which 17% did not use the app. The content, usability and appeal of the app. were evaluated as moderately positive by the users. On a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high), mean ratings were 3.66 (SD=.79) for the content, 3.59 (SD=.83) for appeal, and 3.82 (SD=.52) for usability. Discussion: The availability, assimilation into patients’ everyday lives and our results suggest that smart-phone applications could be potential media for improving oral health behaviour.