Abstract: Objective To develop and evaluate the effect of Professional Care APP for stroke patients at home. Methods Professional Care APP 1.0 was developed by reviewing literature, analyzing APP function and consulting expert, and combined with the findings at the early stage. And then it was upgraded to APP 2.0 after a 4-week trial in 10 stroke patients at home, which included two parts: patient-side and medical-side. The patient-side provided health education, rehabilitation guidance, medication reminder, online consultation and so on. From December, 2017 to June, 2018, 77 stroke patients in a community in Zhengzhou, China were conveniently selected and randomly divided into control group (n = 39) and intervention group (n = 38). The control group received routine community follow-up, and the intervention group received Professional Care APP 2.0, for 12 weeks. Results After a 12-week intervention, the level of knowledge and medication compliance was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (t > 4.205, P < 0.001). The score of demand for professional care was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (t = -18.183, P < 0.001). The intervention group made a good evaluation for APP in usefulness, ease of learning, usability, credibility, acceptability and satisfaction. Conclusion Professional Care APP can meet the professional care needs, and improve the level of knowledge on disease and medication compliance for stroke patients at home. The patients' evaluation for APP is ideal.

Key words: stroke, home, professional care, Smartphone application