%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-326X
%I JMIR Publications
%V 8
%N 
%P e57185
%T Complementary App-Based Yoga Home Exercise Therapy for Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Usability Study
%A Grube,Lara
%A Petit,Pascal
%A Vuillerme,Nicolas
%A Nitschke,Marlies
%A Nwosu,Obioma Bertrand
%A Knitza,Johannes
%A Krusche,Martin
%A Seifer,Ann-Kristin
%A Eskofier,Bjoern M
%A Schett,Georg
%A Morf,Harriet
%+ Department of Internal Medicine 3- Rheumatology & Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Ulmenweg 18, Erlangen, 91054, Germany, 49 091318543023, harriet.morf@uk-erlangen.de
%K DTx
%K DHA
%K usability
%K Yoga
%K YogiTherapy
%K ankylosing spondylitis
%K axial spondylarthritis
%K digital health application
%K eHealth
%K self-assessment
%K physical exercise
%K patient acceptance
%K therapy
%K home exercise
%K exercise
%K patients
%K patient
%K spondyloarthritis
%K usability study
%K app
%K apps
%K rheumatic disease
%K chronic
%K spine
%K adjacent joints
%K joints
%K joint
%K correlation analysis
%K digital therapeutics
%D 2024
%7 19.9.2024
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Form Res
%G English
%X Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by potentially disabling inflammation of the spine and adjacent joints. Regular exercise is a cornerstone of treatment. However, patients with AS currently have little support. YogiTherapy (MaD Lab) is an app developed to support patients with AS by providing instructions for yoga-based home exercise therapy. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the usability and acceptance of the newly designed YogiTherapy app for patients with AS. Methods: Patients completed the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) and net promoter score (NPS) questionnaires after the app introduction. Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney rank sum test, chi-square test for count data, and correlation analysis were conducted to examine the usability of the app, acceptance, and patient characteristics. Results: A total of 65 patients with AS (33, 51% female; age: mean 43.3, SD 13.6 years) were included in the study from May 2022 to June 2023. Subsequently, the data were analyzed. Usability was rated moderate, with a mean uMARS of 3.35 (SD 0.47) points on a scale from 0 to 5. The highest-rated uMARS dimension was information (mean 3.88, SD 0.63), followed by functionality (mean 3.84, SD 0.87). Females reported a significantly higher uMARS total score than males (mean 3.47, SD 0.48 vs mean 3.23, SD 0.45; P=.03, Vargha and Delaney A [VDA] 0.66, 95% CI 0.53-0.77). The mean average of the NPS was 6.23 (SD 2.64) points (on a scale from 0 to 10), based on 43% (26/65 nonpromoters, 42% (25/65) indifferent, and 15% (9/65) promoters. A total of 7% (5/65) of those surveyed did not answer the question. When applying the NPS formula, the result is –26%. The NPS showed a positive correlation with the usage of mobile apps (r=0.39; P=.02). uMARS functionality was significantly higher rated by patients younger than 41 years (mean 4.17, SD 0.55 vs mean 3.54, SD 1; P<.001; VDA 0.69, 95% CI 0.56-0.80). Patients considering mobile apps as useful reported higher uMARS (r=0.38, P=.02). The uMARS app quality mean score was correlated with the frequency of using apps (r=–0.21, P<.001). Conclusions: The results revealed moderate acceptance and usability ratings, prompting further app improvement. Significant differences were observed between age and gender. Our results emphasize the need for further improvements in YogiTherapy. 
%R 10.2196/57185
%U https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e57185
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/57185