A web platform for exercise training and automated remote physical assessment of chronic patients by their health professionals : a usability study

Background Telerehabilitation is an emerging technology that uses digital technologies to perform evaluation and treatment to provide rehabilitative care to patients in various locations. This approach has advantages such as reducing costs and overcoming barriers of distance.Objective This study assessed a web-based exercise training platform usability by healthcare professionals who provide exercise training coaching services.Methods We adopted a mixed-method design. The platform was given to professionals for six weeks. The method involved usability testing, followed by interviews (to assess the web platform's acceptability). We used ATTRAKDiff and DEEP questionnaires to assess the platform's usability. The conformity of the platform with the needs and the facility of its integration in the daily organisation of the health professionals were explored using semi-structured interviews.Results In total, 20 rehabilitation professionals were recruited to complete the study on the basis of a purposive sample with a maximum of diversity. We found a good attractiveness (ATT = 1.98) and a high usability of the platform (DEEP = 90.7%). In total, three main themes (platform quality, challenges of integrating platform use into their daily lives and social factors) emerged from the interview data, shedding light on users’ perspectives and experiences with the platform.Conclusions This study emphasises the importance of a remote physical training platform, which should be easy to use, understandable, and aesthetically pleasing. This collaborative approach of platform co-construction by future users will enable the next versions of Adepina to be more personalised and better promote the achievement of effort retraining programmes.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06558591..