# Refinement of the Comprehensive Mobile Assessment of Pressure (CMAP) System for Prevention of Pressure Injuries

> **NIH VA I01** · MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · —

## Abstract

Objectives: The long-term goal of this project is to improve the effectiveness of pressure injury prevention
education by clinicians and self-management by Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) through a methodical
development and testing of a mobile platform based pressure mapping system called “Comprehensive Mobile
Assessment of Pressure” (CMAP). The targeted risk-reduction behavior in this project is the effective use of
weight shifts when sitting in a wheelchair by improving consistency, frequency, duration, and quality of
movements to redistribute pressure. CMAP provides visual cues as well as individually customizable reminders
that are designed to compensate for the lack of sensation that prevents the use of natural cues to redistribute
pressure, by wheelchair users. An updated CMAP system will serve two important objectives: 1) assist clinicians
in assessment, individualized goal-setting, and monitoring the Veteran with SCI’s progress toward pressure
injury prevention behavior goals while in the hospital setting; and 2) assist clinicians with individualized setup
and education of the Veteran with SCI for using the CMAP system in the home setting as a self-management
strategy for pressure injury prevention.
Specific Aims: The specific aims of this study include: 1a) hardware expansion to improve functionality of the
CMAP system to add a docking and charging station and use of CMAP on a smartwatch based on Veteran
preferences and 1b) software expansion to enhance clinical education for pressure injury prevention education,
with requirements provided by clinicians; 2) determine usability of the refined CMAP system when it is integrated
into patient education for Veteran’s with acute SCI during their inpatient rehabilitation stay, and 3) a determine
usability and efficacy of the refined CMAP system for clinician-delivered pressure injury prevention education,
followed by Veteran use of CMAP in their daily routines at home.
Study Design: This four-year study will have multiple stages and will use a mixed methods approach that includes
iterative focus groups and interviews with Veterans who have SCI and with clinicians who provide pressure injury
prevention education to Veterans with SCI; self-efficacy and usability surveys for both Veterans and clinicians;
pilot testing of CMAP during inpatient rehabilitation and testing during outpatient visits. Repeated measures will
be used to evaluate changes within subject for completion of weight shifts while using CMAP, compared to
periods when not using CMAP.
Methods: During the first two years, improvements to CMAP hardware and software will be guided by experience-
based design guided requirements learned about through iterative focus groups including Veterans with SCI/D
(n=10) and clinicians (n=10). Usability will be measured at each iteration of development using the System
Usability Scale (SUS) and the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). The focus groups will be repeated to
ensure alignment betw...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10356841
- **Project number:** 5I01RX003222-03
- **Recipient organization:** MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTINE M OLNEY
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10356841

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10356841, Refinement of the Comprehensive Mobile Assessment of Pressure (CMAP) System for Prevention of Pressure Injuries (5I01RX003222-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10356841. Licensed CC0.

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