How a Dysphonia App Can Promote the Motivation of Speech Therapists and Patients in the Long Term-A Qualitative Study in the LAOLA Project.

Objective: The care of patients with dysphonia will change due to the growing shortage of specialists, demographic change, and digitalization. To counteract the associated problems in patient care, the LAOLA app demonstrator is to be developed. In the future, patients will receive exercise videos for their training from their treating speech and language pathologist (SLP) via LAOLA. During the training, they will receive real-time biofeedback on visual (eg, posture) and auditory (eg, volume) criteria using machine learning. This study aimed to analyze the needs and requirements of SLPs and patients with dysphonia for an innovative mobile health application. It was determined how LAOLA can motivate regular training and what other functions are desired.

Materials and methods: An online survey (19 SLPs), a guideline-based focus group (10 SLPs), a reflection session (five SLPs), and individual interviews with six patients with dysphonia took place, which were evaluated according to the qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz and Rädiker, which structured the content.

Results: Of the seven main categories and (up to seven each) subcategories, the main category "LAOLA components regarding the training part" was the most revealing. The results were presented using the Technology Acceptance Model 2. From the user's point of view, LAOLA is innovative as a digital assistance system and would be used in everyday life. Maintaining motivation is just as important as avoiding control and pressure to perform. It is also important that LAOLA is not intended to replace treatment, but to complement it. Various specific functions, for example, an overview of services, were requested. The results are an important basis for the user-oriented development of the app.

Conclusion: Digitization creates new treatment options and enables individual patients to control their health more closely. LAOLA is intended to allow better monitoring of dysphonia and cost reduction in the healthcare sector, with data protection having a high priority. Since the smartphone is usually always present, voice training can be reminded at any time.