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Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences
e-ISSN 2345-3699
p-ISSN 1608-7046
Image Credit:koomesh
Outline
Development and Evaluation of a Self-Care Application Program to Prevent Readmission of Stroke Patients: A Step toward enhancing Post-discharge Care Quality
Authors
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2Department of Neurology, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4Midwifery and Nursing Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Midwifery and Nursing Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Email: [email protected]
How to Cite:Rajabpour M, Ghandehari K, Tabatabaei SM, Mirhaghi A. Development and Evaluation of a Self-Care Application Program to Prevent Readmission of Stroke Patients: A Step toward enhancing Post-discharge Care Quality. koomesh. 2026;28(3):e158098. doi: https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-158098
Abstract
Background: One of the most significant adverse effects of stroke is the risk of readmission. It is essential to educate patients on self-care using modern technologies tailored to their needs, comprehension levels, and education.
Objectives: This research aimed to develop and evaluate a self-care application program designed to prevent the readmission of stroke patients.
Methods: This applied study was conducted based on a prototype or iterative model in four stages: Requirements, development, evaluation, and implementation in 2024. In the first stage, the software features and educational content were defined. The second stage involved developing a prototype of the mobile application for the Android operating system. In the third stage, 20 individuals from medical informatics, neurology, nursing, and patients in the neurology department of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad were selected through convenience sampling. They evaluated the application using the Health Applications Evaluation Tool Questionnaire (for specialists) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (for patients). Finally, in the fourth stage, the final version of the application was refined based on user feedback.
Results: In terms of gender, 60% (12 individuals) of the experts and patients or caregivers participating in the study were female, while the remainder were male. The mean age of the experts was 52.12 ± 1.33 years, whereas the mean age of the patients or caregivers was 55.36 ± 1.82 years. According to 100% of experts, the advantages of the StrokeEZ application included the accuracy and transparency of the information provided, the coherence of the program in terms of color and design, and the comprehensibility and clarity of the program. In the opinion of 100% of patients and their caregivers, it featured the visual appeal of the program, clear and detailed explanations of the content through videos, clear and attainable goals, and comprehensive yet concise coverage. The average total evaluation score of the application was 59.15 ± 4.42 (out of 69) based on experts' opinions and 79.24 ± 6.54 (out of 92) based on the opinions of patients and their caregivers.
Conclusion: The development of a self-care application program for the prevention of re-admission of stroke patients, tailored to the educational, cultural, and social conditions of the country, has garnered the satisfaction of most experts and patients. Additionally, its use may help improve the self-care of these patients and the quality of nursing care, which should be considered in future studies.
Highlights
References
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Copyright
© 2026, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
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