MultiSteps
A mobile solution to make life easier for people with multiple sclerosis
Type of project: Feasibility study
Disability concerned: Multiple disabilities, Multiple sclerosis
Topics: Autonomy, Communication, Education, Health
Status: Completed
We want to create an innovative mobile application, MultiSteps, aimed at giving control back to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It will enable symptoms to be recorded and PDF reports to be created to facilitate communication with neurologists. Users will also be able to take part in research studies.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This disabling condition can lead to a range of physical, mental and emotional challenges. As a result, multiple sclerosis patients often struggle to manage their symptoms, monitor their fatigue levels and maintain their cognitive function, which can impact on their overall quality of life. This project specifically aims to address the disabilities and challenges associated with MS.
We have found no existing application that gives patients total control over their personal data, while being useful for both patients and carers to monitor their MS via a modern, user-friendly interface.
The main objective of this phase was to assess the feasibility of the MultiSteps project and to secure strategic partnerships. We sought to validate the interest and needs of both patients and healthcare professionals, while identifying key partners who could contribute to the success of the project.
We have received significant interest from a number of key organisations. The feedback we received from various patients was invaluable in refining our understanding of their needs. We also concluded that a detailed visual of the possible functionalities would be necessary to help partners and future users to better project themselves into the application.
During the development of this project, our team gained valuable knowledge and skills in a number of areas:
- Reinforcement of the concept: The feedback received during the training day and the follow-ups refined our idea, helping us to target the needs of users and partners.
- Communication: We learned how to communicate our vision effectively to potential future partners and users.
- Research review: We carried out a review of studies on MS related to digital devices, which informed our perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in this field. It also reinforced the scientific rigour of our project.
Our next steps are as follows:
- Innovation Booster Prototype phase: Our first objective is to take part in this phase to create a visual of the application’s functionalities. This prototype will allow us to discuss the details of the project in more depth with our partners and patients.
- Engagement with partners and patients: The prototype will form the basis for further discussions with our strategic partners and the patients involved. This will help us to further validate and refine the concept.
- Next steps: Once the prototype has been validated, we plan to submit a dossier to the ethics commission, carry out user tests, and draw up a business plan in line with our partners’ objectives and our values.
