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The Effect of an Android-Based Application on the Knowledge of the Caregivers of Children With Cerebral Palsy



Ghazisaeedi M1 ; Safari A2, 3 ; Sheikhtaheri A4 ; Dalvand H5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
  3. 3. School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2016

Abstract

Background: Mobile health and e-learning may have a significant impact on training patients, physicians, students and caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of using an educational mobile application on the knowledge of the caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: We used a previously developed mobile application. The knowledge of 17 caregivers of children with CP (including parents) about the daily care of their children was evaluated through a self-assessment and a test with multiple-choice and true-false questions. Next, the application, which included several educational modules for the daily care of the children with CP, was given to the caregivers to use continually for two months. After this period, the knowledge of the caregivers was evaluated by the same tools. Data analysis was performed by SPSS-16, using paired-sample t-test or Wilcoxon test. Results: The effect of the use of this educational application on the knowledge of caregivers in all childcare domains, except for eating, was reported to be significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of the multiplechoice test revealed that this application increased the knowledge of caregivers in all domains except playing (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Training through novel technologies such as Smartphone along with their applications can improve the knowledge of caregivers about the daily care of children with cerebral palsy.