Views and experiences of patients using the exercise app ’Salaso’
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the views and experiences of patients using the app Salaso: a multimedia application developed to increase exercise adherence for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
IRAS ID
209977
Contact name
Lisa Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 27 days
Research summary
Arthritis is very common; it affects around 8.5 million people in the UK and is estimated to cost the NHS £689 million a year. Treatments for arthritis include drugs, surgery and physiotherapy. Exercise is a key part of physiotherapy treatment and because exercises need to be practiced to be of benefit, exercising at home is needed for the treatment to work. Studies suggest that many patients with home-based exercise programmes do not carry out the exercises as advised, which may be due to patients not getting the necessary feedback to confidently do the exercises at home. Another reason may be that there is no clear support structure available to enable them to continue exercising.\n\nSalaso is an online application (app) that can be used by a physiotherapist to help support patients to exercise at home. Patients can log onto the app wherever they have Internet access to watch and learn how to do the exercises that they have been given. It also allows the physiotherapist to monitor the progress of the patient and to give feedback/support where needed. Because of this, Salaso might help support patients with arthritis to 1) carry out the exercises correctly and 2) feel confident to work on them at home. This could be of benefit not only to patients, but also to the NHS, as improving patient adherence to home exercise plans may reduce symptoms and the need for treatment. \n\nThe aim of this research is to evaluate Salaso using an online survey to find out how patients engage with Salaso as well as their thought on whether it is useful (or not) in helping them complete their home exercise programme. Patients will be recruited from a clinic piloting Salaso in a hospital in the South of England.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0793
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion