Mobile Health App Needs Among Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers in China: A Qualitative Study From the Perceptions of Patients, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the specific needs of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs) for a mobile health (mHealth) app, aiming to inform the design and development of effective mHealth service solutions.

METHODS

This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from June to September 2024 in the wound care clinics of 2 local hospitals. Participants included patients with DFUs, caregivers, and HCPs directly involved in their care. Interview data were analyzed, synthesized, and refined using content analysis.

RESULTS

Five key themes emerged: the pressing need to implement mHealth app services, convenient and personalized access to information, continuous and specialized health guidance, a multidisciplinary approach to disease management, and free access alongside privacy and legal protections.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insights for the design and development of an mHealth app for DFU. During the development process, it is essential to consider user needs and ensure the app meets the expectations of patients and related groups for personalized, continuous, and specialized health guidance; free access; privacy protection; and multidisciplinary collaboration. A balance should be struck between convenience and security of the app's features, to encourage user engagement and enhance the app's value and effectiveness.