DEVELOPMENT AND CONTENT VALIDATION OF A MOBILE APPLICATION FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIABETIC FOOT PREVENTION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Diabetic foot is one of the most severe chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with high rates of ulceration, amputation, hospitalization, and mortality. Early identification of risk factors and systematic clinical foot assessment are essential strategies for preventing these complications, particularly in the context of Primary Health Care. This study aimed to develop and validate a mobile application for clinical assessment, risk stratification, and prevention of foot lesions in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving care in Primary Health Care settings. This methodological study focused on the development and validation of a health technology and was conducted between August 2024 and August 2026. The application was developed based on scientific evidence and national and international clinical guidelines and subsequently submitted to content validation by a panel of 34 healthcare professionals experienced in diabetes care. The tool was organized into three integrated modules: user profile, clinical assessment and risk stratification, and multidisciplinary intervention and health education. Experts demonstrated a high level of agreement across all evaluated criteria, with no inadequate ratings recorded. The highest levels of agreement were observed for items related to the relevance of the application for healthcare practice (97.1%). Content Validity Index values ranged from 0.84 to 1.00, while the overall Content Validity Coefficient was 0.86, confirming satisfactory content validity. Following refinement, improvements related to usability, social determinants of health, user monitoring, and offline functionality were incorporated. The application demonstrated satisfactory evidence of content validity and potential to support clinical assessment, risk stratification, and diabetic foot prevention in Primary Health Care, representing an innovative tool for improving healthcare quality and supporting clinical decision-making within the Brazilian Unified Health System.