The Effectiveness of Mobile-Learning in Teaching Corrective Exercises to Scoliosis Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background Mobile-learning (M-learning) has recently provided new opportunities and facilitated patient education due to its attractiveness and ease of access. As a result, the present study aimed to design an application (app) and evaluate the effectiveness of M-learning in teaching CEx to patients suffering from scoliosis. Methods This quasi-experimental study was fulfilled in two phases, namely, app design and educational intervention among scoliosis patients, and then reflections on the effectiveness of the app and educational intervention implementation concerned. Within the implementation step, the scoliosis patients referred to the rehabilitation center affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, were divided into case and control groups upon imaging and grading their spine curvature. The effectiveness of the educational intervention was also assessed through the rate of recovery in spine curvature and users’ opinions and satisfaction with the app usability via the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). Results In this sense, the accuracy index was equal to 100% based on physiotherapists’ approval. The level of satisfaction with the educational intervention in the case group with a mean value of 97% was also higher than that in the controls (88%). Moreover, the values ​​of the Cob angle change in the case group were significantly higher than that in the controls. Based on the analysis of the UEQ outcomes, the highest and the lowest levels of satisfaction among the users were associated with the “perspicuity” and “stimulation” dimensions of the app, respectively. Conclusion Given that the new models of care are today mostly focused on the role of patients, moving toward patient self-management, the app designed here could be utilized as a model for developing broader similar systems and programs for treatment management, patient monitoring, emergency response, personalized health monitoring, and widespread access to health care information.