Investigating usability and acceptability of a virtual community of practice to promote self-management of chronic vascular conditions

Background Virtual communities of practice (vCOPs) are a way of improving patient self-management. These inclusive online platforms can help support patients with chronic conditions to be part of a clinician-moderated vCOP. To evaluate health care professionals' perspectives on the usability and acceptability of a vCoP for improving patient activation and self-management among those with chronic vascular conditions. Methods A cross-sectional observational study using convenience sampling was used. Data were collected during the 2022 Vascular Society Conference held in the United Kingdom. Participants completed a structured questionnaire evaluating vCoP usability, accessibility, perceived patient benefits, and areas for improvement. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, were calculated to summarize the findings. Results A total of 42 health care professionals, comprising 16 vascular nurse specialists and 26 consultant vascular surgeons, voluntarily participated in the study. Sixty percent of participants found the vCoP platform accessible. The majority agreed or strongly agreed that the platform could enhance patient activation, self-management, the consent process, and the patient journey. Most participants rated the platform's readability, interactiveness, usability, and overall benefit as either excellent or good. Seventy-six percent of participants identified no major drawbacks, though concerns were raised regarding accessibility for patients with limited internet access or technical skills. Suggested improvements included modifying the layout and creating a mobile app. Conclusions Health care professionals viewed the vCoP platform as both usable and acceptable, with potential benefits for patient engagement and self-management. Future research is required to assess its effectiveness in improving patient outcomes.