Prehabilitation of High-Risk Candidates for Major Surgical Procedures
NPS
RECRUITMENT
A descriptive observational study was carried out including patients (n=104) who completed the prehabilitation program at HCB 8 between July 2020 and July 2021 and agreed to participate in the study. The study was offered to all patients included in the prehabilitation program on the dates described (n=213).The inclusion criterion was having a smartphone or tablet compatible with the prototype mobile app (Prehab) with an Internet connection. The exclusion criteria were (1) physical or psychological problems precluding the use of the mobile app and (2) not having a carer.The prototype version of Health Circuit tailored to the prehabilitation process (Prehab; TRL 7) allowed care team members to prescribe and monitor nonpharmacological interventions for patient self-management through a mobile app, which included (1) physical activity goals, (2) nutritional tips, (3) mindfulness exercises, and (4) patient-reported outcomes. Moreover, patients had access to a one-to-one chat with the case manager [At the end of the prehabilitation program (4-6 weeks on average), the patients’ satisfaction with and assessments of the usability of the mobile app were collected with the self-administered NPS and SUS, respectively. Moreover, the patients’ use of the mobile app was evaluated according to (1) the number of chat interactions, (2) adherence to reporting of daily physical activity, (3) completion of follow-up questionnaires, and (4) access to the tailored education material on mindfulness, nutrition, and physical activity. Results are presented as means or percentages, as indicated.In this study the back end for health care professionals was not assessed because the recruitment and follow-up of study participants was done with only one health care professional, a case manager physiotherapist.