In accordance with the studies conducted with the aim of designing a self-care application to control tuberculosis [28], AIDS [29] and heart failure [30], present study identified demographic data, clinical data and application capability. Since the present study is specifically designed for patients treated with extracorporeal lithotripsy, the disease monitoring section identifies possible complications after crushing such as hematuria, fever, and hypertension.
Akand et al. [31] conducted a study to develop the RIRS information registry system for patients with kidney stones in Turkey in 2019. They extracted and categorized the information into three sections before operation, during operation and postoperative. In agreement with the approach of Akand et al., in the present study, data elements were categorized into data before lithotripsy (sex, weight, height, history of kidney stones, previous treatment method, family history of kidney stones, comorbidities, identification method of stone location, exact location of stone), data related to during lithotripsy (stone apoptosis, type of anesthesia) and data related to postoperative lithotripsy (drugs being used, postoperative complications, follow-up of stone removal).
In designing of the kidney and urinary tract stones registry program (ReSKU), the necessary variables and data were assessed in four main sections: the necessary variables for registering a new patient, the variables related to the operation, the necessary variables for postoperative follow-up and the follow-up variables[32]. In accordance with the design and needs assessment process of the ReSKU registry program, in this research, the following has been considered: data and variables related to the new patient and the operation performed; Identification and follow-up of signs and complications after lithotripsy; Familiarity with diets and tracking water consumption; Various reminders to prevent stone recurrence.
Since usability and its factors are a well-known factor in determining the success and acceptance of software, applications and IT technologies, this issue has received much attention and various studies have been conducted to develop criteria for evaluating the usability of mobile health programs. Has been. In a systematic review study, Zapata et al. [33] divided usability into attractiveness, learning, performance, and comprehensibility according to the ISO 9126-1 quality model. In the present study, users rated the attractiveness (screen) of 8.1, the ability to learn of 8.09, the efficiency of 7.95, the comprehensibility of 7.88 and evaluated it at a good level.
Brown et al. developed the health information technology assessment model (Health-ITUEM) as a comprehensive usability assessment framework [34]. Health-ITUEM criteria included error prevention, completeness, recall, information needs, adjustability, learning capability, performance speed, competency, and other outcomes. The average opinions of the users of the self-care application designed in this study were 7.35 for error prevention, 7.95 for completeness, 7.8 for recall, 7.88 for information needs, 7.1 for adjustment, 8.09 for learning, 7.05 for performance, 7.93 for competency and were evaluated at a good level.
In the study of Yasini et al., "usability" included ease of use, readability, information needs, performance, flexibility, user satisfaction, completeness, and good feeling of the user after using the program [35]. In the present study the following criteria evaluated: 8.4 for ease of use, 8.05 for readability, 7.88 for information needs, 8.1 for flexibility, 7.9 for user satisfaction, 7.93 for completeness and 8.1 for good user feeling after use.
In various studies, the QUIS questionnaire has been used as a suitable and standard tool to assess the usability of software, applications and websites that measure user satisfaction in various areas. QUIS was used to evaluate the smartphone application for pregnant women in the embryonic cord blood bank [36], to evaluate the self-care application for patients with heart failure [25] and to evaluate the tele-dermatology software[37]. In the present study, the QUIS questionnaire was used to evaluate the usability of the designed software.
According to the results of studies conducted by Valente [26], the proposed application has adopted an appropriate approach in increasing the amount of water consumption and patient self-monitoring with the possibility of recording water consumption, recording urine volume and PH, sending reminders throughout the day and reporting in the form of appropriate graphic design.
According to the researches [38–40], in the present study, in order to improve the diet to prevent recurrence of kidney stones and increase patients' knowledge in the field of proper nutrition, nutritional recommendations appropriate to the type of urinary stones has been presented to patients.
A study conducted by Rokaia et al. to investigate the " Impact of Health Education Program for Elderly Patients Undergoing Extracorporeal Shock waves Lithotripsy on Clearance of Urolithiasis " showed that the training program had a significant effect on patients' knowledge and Stone removal after ESWL [41]. The educational content of the self-care application for patients with kidney stones includes familiarity with kidney stone disease, familiarity with ESWL, PCNL and TUL lithotripsy methods, as well as familiarity with appropriate exercises after lithotripsy. The proposed application facilitates patients' access to the necessary training and knowledge in the field of kidney stone disease without time and space restrictions.