Ten Steps to Design a Counseling App to Reduce the Psychosocial Impact of Human Papillomavirus Testing on the Basis of a User-Centered Design Approach in a Low- and Middle-Income Setting (original) (raw)
Related papers
A user-centered model for designing consumer mobile health application (apps)
Journal of biomedical informatics, 2016
Mobile technologies are a useful platform for the delivery of health behavior interventions. Yet little work has been done to create a rigorous and standardized process for the design of mobile health (mHealth) apps. This project sought to explore the use of the Information Systems Research (ISR) framework as guide for the design of mHealth apps. Our work was guided by the ISR framework which is comprised of 3 cycles: Relevance, Rigor and Design. In the Relevance cycle, we conducted 5 focus groups with 33 targeted end-users. In the Rigor cycle, we performed a review to identify technology-based interventions for meeting the health prevention needs of our target population. In the ISR Design Cycle, we employed usability evaluation methods to iteratively develop and refine mock-ups for a mHealth app. Through an iterative process, we identified barriers and facilitators to the use of mHealth technology for HIV prevention for high-risk MSM, developed 'use cases' and identified r...
BMJ Innovations
'Design with the user' is a guiding principle for creating digital solutions to solve systemic developmental challenges. According to this principle, digital solutions are more likely to be effective if the intended users are involved in the design process, thereby rooting design thinking in a human-centric approach that seeks to understand their characteristics, needs and challenges. However, few examples exist for human-centred design (HCD) processes being successfully applied in low-and-middle-income countries to create digital health interventions that achieve both scale and sustainability. This paper describes the application of a five-stage HCD process to develop a suite of mobile solutions to improve reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health in Bihar, India, and discusses lessons learnt. Two of the solutions were later adopted by the government and scaled to 10 million subscribers and more than 300 000 front-line health workers (FLHWs) in 13 states. The socio-ecological model, which considers the interplay between individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and public policy factors, provides a conceptual framework for understanding key learnings from the HCD process. At the organisational level, we found that demand generation was constrained by deficiencies in the public health system, while at the community level, gender norms were a barrier to changing health practices. At the interpersonal level, mobile health solutions for mothers also had to address fathers, because they controlled women's access to mobile phones. At the individual level, FLHWs had limited time to build their skills and needed more flexible, home-based learning opportunities; most FLHWs had access to mobile phones, but devices were overwhelmingly basic and digital skills limited; voice technology was required to maximise reach among low literate women and an authoritative yet empathetic narrator was required to humanise the digital experience, lend credibility and create engagement.
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2015
Background: The increasing pervasiveness of mobile technologies has given potential to transform healthcare by facilitating clinical management using software applications. These technologies may provide valuable tools in sexual health care and potentially overcome existing practical and cultural barriers to routine testing for sexually transmitted infections. In order to inform the design of a mobile health application for STIs that supports self-testing and self-management by linking diagnosis with online care pathways, we aimed to identify the dimensions and range of preferences for user interface design features among young people. Methods: Nine focus group discussions were conducted (n = 49) with two age-stratified samples (16 to 18 and 19 to 24 year olds) of young people from Further Education colleges and Higher Education establishments. Discussions explored young people's views with regard to: the software interface; the presentation of information; and the ordering of interaction steps. Discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.
Research Square (Research Square), 2022
Purpose: The objective of this study was to close the gap in healthcare providers' skills, training and information sharing in HIV management by developing a mHealth artifact, with the aim of improving health management outcomes. Methods: This study used a three-phase Design Science human-centred methodology to develop the AnnMac android based communication application artifact. The design science methodology used consisted of problem identi cation, solution design and evaluation of the AnnMac application user experiences and impact. A descriptive cross-sectional case study used data collected from the literature review, and primary data from the participatory research approach. Secondly we used data collected from the AnnMac application user experiences and impact evaluation. Results: The AnnMac application was designed, developed, pilot implemented and registered on Google store and was ready for download by January 2020. Conclusions The evaluation of the AnnMac android mobile application showed a high rate (<85%) of adoption due to its simple-to-use features resulted in improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load suppression among patients and improved health care worker satisfaction and engagement in HIV care. Furthermore, the AnnMac m-health android based communication application helped health care providers communicate and engage with adolescents and young adults living with HIV using relevant guidelines and tailor made messages or information. In addition the AnnMac m-health android based communication application enabled health care providers manage adolescents and young adults living with HIV healthcare progress in improving their HIV management resulting in improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load suppression among patients.
International Journal of Medical Informatics, 2018
Objective: To conduct an in-depth analysis of users' experiences using an HIV self-management app. Materials and Methods: We conducted four follow-up focus groups at the end of a 3-month randomized feasibility trial. All focus group sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore emerging themes. All of the themes were categorized into three factors of the PRECEDE component of the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework. For a finer granularity of analysis, the codes of each theme were broken into positive, negative, and neutral codes by study group.
Mobile health application for Thai women: investigation and model
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Background Women’s mobile health (m-health) applications are currently widely used for health education, medication, prevention of illness, etcetera. However, women are extremely sensitive to their design. While the number of m-health applications for women is increasing, many are of poor quality and have development issues. Objective This paper aims to develop and evaluate an m-health application for Thai women based on a user-centred design (UCD). Current women’s m-health applications were investigated to identify any lack of development in usability, functionality and graphical user interface. The results were evaluated and used to create criteria for the trial of a prototype application. Methods UCD methodology was used to design a graphical user interface, analyse the application’s functionality, and enhance its usability. Data from thirty female end-users were collected and maintained locally, and thirteen information technology (IT) experts provided feedback on the prototype ...
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Background Adolescent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections continue to impact 15 – 19-year-olds across the globe. The lack of sexual reproductive health information (SRH) in resource-limited settings due to cultural and societal attitudes towards adolescent SRH could be contributing to the negative outcomes. Innovative approaches, including mobile phone technologies, are needed to address the need for reliable adolescent SRH information. Objective The study aimed to co-design a Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) based mobile app prototype to provide confidential adolescent SRH information on-demand and evaluate the mobile app’s usability and user experience. Methods A human-centered design methodology was applied. This practice framework allowed the perspectives and feedback of adolescent users to be included in the iterative design process. To participate, an adolescent must have been 15 to 19 years old, resided in Kibra and would be able to access a mobile p...
Journal of Medical Systems, 2019
The Preparadxs app was designed to enhace the prevention of the HIV and other sexually transmitted infections transmission through the empowerment of the user. The purpose of this study is to determine the usability and perception about the app among real users. In this prospective cross-sectional study all app end-users were asked to answer the System Usability Scale and question regarding app capability to reduce sexually transmitted infections in the future. Influence of several variables (gender identity, educational level and digital native condition) was explored. A total of 69 users answered the survey during study period. Most of them were male and had university studies. Final usability score was 80,8 points which means a good, near excellent usability. No differences in usability scores were observed regarding to gender identity, native condition or educational level. Most users were strongly agree (56,5%) or agree (28,9%) with app potential to reduce the incidence of HIV and other STIs in the future.
DECENT: A sociotechnical approach for developing mobile health apps in underserved settings
Sage, 2023
Objective: Despite the fact that user engagement is critical to the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in the Global South, many of these interventions lack user engagement features. This is because sociotechnical aspects of such initiatives are frequently ignored during the design, development, and implementation stages. This research highlighted the importance of considering sociotechnical factors when developing mHealth apps. The intended users for the mHealth technologies in this study are care professionals. Materials and Methods: Five semi-structured interviews and a pilot interview were conducted to identify user engagement facilitators and barriers. The interview data were analysed using NVivo. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model is then used to map the facilitators and barriers to mHealth app engagement, allowing researchers to better understand how users engage/disengage with mHealth apps. Results and Discussion: Capability facilitators included features that assist users in learning more about the app (e.g. a user manual and statistical data) as well as features that assist users in developing a routine. The lack of app skills and cognitive overload limit capability. While social connectedness and offline functionality were identified as facilitators of user engagement, non-user-friendly design and cultural dimensions were identified as barriers. Early user engagement and rewards were identified as motivational facilitators that influence user engagement. Furthermore, perceived non-utility and a lack of encouragement were identified as motivational barriers to engagement. Conclusion: Several factors were discovered across all COMB model components that could be used to develop more engaging mHealth apps. Adopting a techno-centric approach that ignores sociotechnical factors can reduce user engagement. The design process engagement enhancement system (DECENT) framework was proposed based on the findings.
PMC, 2020
Background: User-centered design (UCD) is a powerful framework for creating useful, easy-to-use, and satisfying mobile health (mHealth) apps. However, the literature seldom reports the practical challenges of implementing UCD, particularly in the field of mHealth. Objective: This study aims to characterize the practical challenges encountered and propose strategies when implementing UCD for mHealth. Methods: Our multidisciplinary team implemented a UCD process to design and evaluate a mobile app for older adults with heart failure. During and after this process, we documented the challenges the team encountered and the strategies they used or considered using to address those challenges. Results: We identified 12 challenges, 3 about UCD as a whole and 9 across the UCD stages of formative research, design, and evaluation. Challenges included the timing of stakeholder involvement, overcoming designers' assumptions, adapting methods to end users, and managing heterogeneity among stakeholders. To address these challenges, practical recommendations are provided to UCD researchers and practitioners. Conclusions: UCD is a gold standard approach that is increasingly adopted for mHealth projects. Although UCD methods are well-described and easily accessible, practical challenges and strategies for implementing them are underreported. To improve the implementation of UCD for mHealth, we must tell and learn from these traditionally untold stories.