TY  - JOUR
AU  - Quinn, Emma
AU  - Hsiao, Kai Hsun
AU  - Johnstone, Travers
AU  - Gomez, Maria
AU  - Parasuraman, Arun
AU  - Ingleton, Andrew
AU  - Hirst, Nicholas
AU  - Najjar, Zeina
AU  - Gupta, Leena
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/3/13
TI  - Protecting Older Adult Residents in Care Facilities Against Influenza and COVID-19 Using the Influenza Communication, Advice and Reporting (FluCARE) App: Prospective Cohort Mixed Methods Study
JO  - JMIR Form Res
SP  - e38080
VL  - 7
KW  - web app
KW  - digital health
KW  - influenza
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - outbreak
KW  - monitoring
KW  - disease control
KW  - infection spread
KW  - infection control
KW  - detect
KW  - aged care
KW  - elderly
KW  - elderly population
KW  - older adult
KW  - long term care
KW  - care home
KW  - AFC
KW  - LTC
KW  - nursing home
KW  - retirement home
KW  - mobile application
KW  - health application
KW  - mHealth
KW  - care facility
KW  - online training
KW  - health impact
KW  - feasibility
KW  - efficacy
KW  - satisfaction
KW  - prevention
KW  - disease spread
KW  - notification
AB  - Background: Early detection and response to influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities (ACFs) are critical to minimizing health impacts. The Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) Public Health Unit (PHU) has developed and implemented a novel web-based app with integrated functions for online line listings, detection algorithms, and automatic notifications to responders, to assist ACFs in outbreak response. The goal of the Influenza Outbreak Communication, Advice and Reporting (FluCARE) app is to reduce time delays to notifications, which we hope will reduce the spread, duration, and health impacts of an influenza or COVID-19 outbreak, as well as ease workload burdens on ACF staff. Objective: The specific aims of the study were to (1) evaluate the acceptability and user satisfaction of the implementation and use of FluCARE in helping ACFs recognize, notify, and manage influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks in their facility; (2) identify the safety of FluCARE and any potential adverse outcomes of using the app; and (3) identify any perceived barriers or facilitators to the implementation and use of FluCARE from the ACF user perspective. Methods: The FluCARE app was piloted from September 2019 to December 2020 in the SLHD. Associated implementation included promotion and engagement, user training, and operational policies. Participating ACF staff were invited to complete a posttraining survey. Staff were also invited to complete a postpilot evaluation survey that included the user Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) measuring app acceptance, utility, and barriers and facilitators to use. An issues log was also prospectively maintained to assess safety. Survey data were analyzed descriptively or via content analysis where appropriate. Results: Surveys were completed by 31 consenting users from 27 ACFs. FluCARE was rated 3.91 of 5 overall on the uMARS. Of the 31 users, 25 (80%) would definitely use FluCARE for future outbreaks, and all users agreed that the app was useful for identifying influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities. There were no reported critical issues with incorrect or missed outbreak detection. User training, particularly online training modules, and technical support were identified as key facilitators to FluCARE use. Conclusions: FluCARE is an acceptable, useful, and safe app to assist ACF staff with early detection and response to influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks. This study supports feasibility for ongoing implementation and efficacy evaluation, followed by scale-up into other health districts in New South Wales. 
SN  - 2561-326X
UR  - https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e38080
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/38080
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36763638
DO  - 10.2196/38080
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/38080
ER  -