Evaluation of Smartphone Applications for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in South Korea

Abstract

Objective. There are many smartphone-based applications (apps) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. We investigated the conformity and the learnability/usability of these apps for CPR training and real-life supports. Methods. We conducted a mixed-method, sequential explanatory study to assess CPR training apps downloaded on two apps stores in South Korea. Apps were collected with inclusion criteria as follows, Korean-language instruction, training features, and emergency supports for real-life incidents, and analyzed with two tests; 15 medical experts evaluated the apps' contents according to current Basic Life Support guidelines in conformity test, and 15 nonmedical individuals examined the apps using System Usability Scale (SUS) in the learnability/usability test. Results. Out of 79 selected apps, five apps were included and analyzed. For conformity (ICC, 0.95, p < 0.001), means of all apps were greater than 12 of 20 points, indicating that they were well designed according to current guidelines. Three of the five apps yielded acceptable level (greater than 68 of 100 points) for learnability/usability. Conclusion. All the included apps followed current BLS guidelines and a majority offered acceptable learnability/usability for layperson. Current and developmental smartphone-based CPR training apps should include accurate CPR information and be easy to use for laypersons that are potential rescuers in real-life incidents. For Clinical Trials. This is a clinical trial, registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, cris.nih.go.kr), number KCT0001840.

Medical Correctness and User Friendliness of Available Apps for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Systematic Search Combined With Guideline Adherence and Usability Evaluation (Preprint)

“…Therefore we decided to focus only on apps offering real-time support. This is in contrast to the study of Ahn and colleagues, who concentrating solely on CPR-training apps [17].…”

“…Cognitive aids, which are based on medical guidelines, are more and more accepted in healthcare [16]. Ahn and colleagues described, that the total number of downloads for CPR training apps is about several hundred thousand [17]. However, the field is getting more and more complex and unmanageable [18].…”

Novel mHealth App to Deliver Geriatric Assessment-Driven Interventions for Older Adults With Cancer: Pilot Feasibility and Usability Study (Preprint)

“…The SUS is a standardized questionnaire commonly used to assess participants' perceptions of usability of an electronic system or device [31,32]. The scale consists of a 10-item questionnaire and each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ( Table 2).…”

“…The scores are added together and multiplied by 2.5 to get the final score, with a range of 0 to 100. A score of above 68 is considered above average in the evaluation of mobile health apps [31,32].…”

Usability of a store and forward telehealth platform for diagnosis and management of oral mucosal lesions: a cross-sectional study (Preprint)

“…In a study by Ahn et al [28], for example, in which five cardiopulmonary resuscitation training apps were assessed, only one app had a mean usability score above 80 (81.17±19.01). Lacerda et al [29], who compared two cardiology telediagnosis interfaces, found a score below 80 for both (77.5 and 58.8).…”