Development and evaluation of a first aid mobile application for community members in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Timely and effective first aid is critical in emergencies to improve outcomes and save lives. Despite advancements in first aid education globally, limited culturally tailored tools exist in Indonesia to empower communities with first aid skills. Mobile health (mHealth) applications offer a scalable and accessible solution to address this gap.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a first aid mobile application tailored for community members in Indonesia.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed to develop and evaluate the "QuakeGuard" application. The development utilized Android Studio, Kotlin programming, and a server-client architecture with Firebase for real-time data handling. Usability was assessed through the System Usability Scale (SUS), intrinsic motivation was measured using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative feedback. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis.

Results: The QuakeGuard application demonstrated positive usability perceptions, with SUS item responses showing a median score of 4.3 on a 5-point Likert scale. This value represents the median item-level response rather than the standardized SUS score. Participants also demonstrated strong intrinsic motivation, with median IMI domain scores of 5.75 for Effort/Importance and 6.25 for Value/Usefulness. All participants successfully completed predefined tasks, and qualitative findings highlighted the application's intuitive design, educational value, and practical features, including earthquake alerts and access to nearby health facilities.

Conclusion: The QuakeGuard application demonstrates strong potential for enhancing first aid knowledge and disaster preparedness among community members in Indonesia. Future research should focus on broader population studies and long-term evaluations to optimize its impact.