A User-Centred Approach to Designing an eTool for Gout Management.

INTRODUCTION

Gout is a chronic inflammatory arthritis with increasing prevalence in Australia and rates of non-adherence to therapy higher than for any other chronic disease. Electronic health interventions can increase adherence to treatment for many chronic diseases. This study set out to involve end-user patients in the design of a gout self-management eTool.

METHODS

Four semi-structured focus group sessions were held in July and August 2015 with 13 patients with gout (age range 39-79 years). Focus groups involved group discussions of potential eTool features and critiquing disease self-management websites and applications. Focus group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed by two independent researchers to identify useful eTool features and patient perspectives of using technology to manage their health.

FINDINGS: Participants were open to using a supportive gout self-management eTool and identified a number of potentially helpful features, including educational material, serum uric acid monitoring and medication reminder alerts.

DISCUSSION: Focus groups with patients with gout revealed a number of features that should be included in a gout self-management eTool. These results will inform the design and implementation of an eTool for patients with gout and may be broadly applicable to teams designing eTools for other chronic diseases.