Mobile App-Based Interactive Care Plan for Migraine: Survey Study of Usability and Improvement Opportunities

Abstract

Background: We implemented a novel mobile app-based Migraine Interactive Care Plan (MICP) integrated with our electronic health records (EHRs). The MICP facilitates remote assessment of adult patients with migraine, educational content delivery, and care team communication. Feasibility of the MICP was demonstrated in a pilot implementation study.

Objective: We aimed to assess the preferences and satisfaction of patients with migraine users of a mobile app-based care plan integrated with the EHR.

Methods: An electronic survey was administered to a single cohort of MICP users between December 6, 2021, and December 30, 2021. The survey assessed patient preferences for which data to track, frequency of tracking, and satisfaction with the MICP. Survey responses were compared between subsets determined by patient-reported headache frequency and treatment with and without botulinum toxin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist therapy. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for continuous variables and the χ2 test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables.

Results: The total sample size was 184 and the survey response rate was 30.4% (56/184). No significant differences in age (P=.26) or sex (P=.19) between respondents and nonrespondents were observed. Respondent median age was 42 (range 20-72) years and 94.6% (53/56) were female. Headache frequency was (1) 0 to 8 days (26/56, 46.4%), (2) 9 to 14 days (12/56, 21.4%), and (3) 15 or more days (18/56, 32.1%). No difference was observed in any survey responses based on headache frequency or treatment. The majority of respondents preferred to track headache days weekly (30/56, 53.6%) or daily (15/56, 26.8%) and preferred to change the frequency of headache tracking reminders (42/56, 75%). Respondents were somewhat or very interested in daily tracking personal observations in free text (41/52, 78.8%), medication treatment (43/52, 82.7%) and treatment response (39/56, 69.6%), class of medication treatment (36/52, 69.2%), severity of functional impairment (39/56, 69.6%), type of functional impairment (35/53, 66%), headache day (40/54, 74.1%), and headache pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 (38/53, 71.7%). Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the education content was useful (31/51, 60.8%) but lacked personalization (25/51, 49%). Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the MICP (38/50, 76%) and that it helped them communicate with their care team (38/53, 71.7%).

Conclusions: Most MICP users were motivated to track headache frequency, medication treatment with response, functional impairment, and pain intensity. Opportunities to improve the MICP include (1) allowing patients to change the frequency of assessments and notifications; (2) recording personal observations or comments through free text, which may include headache triggers; (3) assessment of headache severity using a 1 to 10 pain scale; and (4) tailoring headache education based on frequency and severity (episodic vs chronic migraine). These observations may be useful to improve the usability of the MICP and similar EHR-integrated migraine care platforms that others may develop.

Keywords: older adult; adult; app; care plan; digital health; eHealth; electronic health record; electronic survey; headache; mHealth; migraine; mobile app; mobile phone; pain; patient-reported outcomes; remote assessment; remote monitoring; smartphone; survey study; technology; telehealth; telemedicine.