(HE-005) Use Assessment of an Interactive Patient Mobile Application to Support Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Laura Leyva-Casillas, MBA; MSBA

Introduction: Patients receiving Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)* with and without companion mobile app (MWH)^† use were compared. Patient demographics, adherence to therapy, wound progression, and therapy days were assessed to characterize the type of patient likely to use MWH and evaluate any differences in NPWT adherence and wound progression.

Methods: MWH was developed for use with an NPWT unit for patients in the homecare setting. Patients undergoing NPWT were invited to download the MWH app to track their wound healing progress, receive NPWT and general wound care education, obtain help using the NPWT device, and order NPWT supplies. From January 2022 to February 2024, 4,917 patients used MWH compared to 261,667 without MWH. Data were summarized as means, counts, and percentages. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to test for differences between cohorts with alpha at 0.05.

Results: MWH users were younger (54 years versus 60 years), had a higher rate of commercial insurance (MWH 38.4% versus non-MWH 25.6%), and had a higher percentage of acute wounds (MWH 77.9% versus non-MWH 69.8%). The average hours of therapy per day was 17.9 for MWH versus 15.4 for non-MWH. The rate of patients maintaining an average of 16 or more hours of therapy per day was higher for the MWH cohort (68.8% versus 54.8%). MWH patients had a larger wound volume decrease at 80.9% versus 76.8% for non-MWH. All findings were statistically significant at p< 0.05.

Discussion: MWH patients were more likely to meet minimum required hours on therapy than non-MWH patients. The increased adherence to therapy may result in a greater decrease in wound volume.