TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring an Existing Weight Management App for Use with Adolescents and Young Adults with Spina Bifida: Usability Study (Preprint)
AU - Stiles-Shields, Colleen
AU - Garcia, Brittney
AU - Moya, Stefany
AU - Villota, Kimberly
AU - Wartman, Elicia
AU - Winning, Adrien M.
AU - Holmbeck, Grayson N.
N1 - Original Paper 1 Population Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States 2 Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States Corresponding Author Colleen Stiles-Shields, PhD Population Behavioral Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Rush University Medical Center 1645 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL, 60612 United States Phone: 1 3125631579 Email: [email protected] Background: Adolescents and young adults with spina bifida (AYA-SBs) have unique user needs, given their variable and complex symptom profile.
PY - 2019/6/25
Y1 - 2019/6/25
N2 - Background: Adolescents and young adults with spina bifida (AYA-SBs) have unique user needs, given their variable and complex symptom profile. Owing to multiple barriers to prevention and intervention treatments for secondary conditions (eg, obesity), AYA-SBs may benefit from the use of behavioral intervention technologies (BITs). However, as BITs are often designed and tested with typically developing individuals, it is unclear if existing BITs may be usable for AYA-SBs. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the usability of a high-quality, publicly available, weight management–focused mobile BIT (smartphone app) for AYA-SBs. Methods: Overall, 28 AYA-SBs attending a Young Men’s Christian Association–based summer camp completed 4 structured usability tasks using a weight management app designed for the general public called My Diet Coach (Bending Spoons). Learnability was measured by (1) time to complete task, (2) number of user errors, and (3) correct entry of data when requested by the app. Satisfaction and general usability were measured via self-reported questionnaires and qualitative feedback following interactions with the app. Results: The majority of the sample were able to complete the tasks, with increased completion rates and improved times on second attempts of the tasks ( P s Conclusions: AYA-SBs were able to learn how to complete specific tasks independently on a weight management app, but design changes consistent with previously proposed user needs were recommended. Rather than designing entirely new BITs, it may be possible to adapt existing technologies to personalize BITs for specific populations such as AYA-SBs.
AB - Background: Adolescents and young adults with spina bifida (AYA-SBs) have unique user needs, given their variable and complex symptom profile. Owing to multiple barriers to prevention and intervention treatments for secondary conditions (eg, obesity), AYA-SBs may benefit from the use of behavioral intervention technologies (BITs). However, as BITs are often designed and tested with typically developing individuals, it is unclear if existing BITs may be usable for AYA-SBs. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the usability of a high-quality, publicly available, weight management–focused mobile BIT (smartphone app) for AYA-SBs. Methods: Overall, 28 AYA-SBs attending a Young Men’s Christian Association–based summer camp completed 4 structured usability tasks using a weight management app designed for the general public called My Diet Coach (Bending Spoons). Learnability was measured by (1) time to complete task, (2) number of user errors, and (3) correct entry of data when requested by the app. Satisfaction and general usability were measured via self-reported questionnaires and qualitative feedback following interactions with the app. Results: The majority of the sample were able to complete the tasks, with increased completion rates and improved times on second attempts of the tasks ( P s Conclusions: AYA-SBs were able to learn how to complete specific tasks independently on a weight management app, but design changes consistent with previously proposed user needs were recommended. Rather than designing entirely new BITs, it may be possible to adapt existing technologies to personalize BITs for specific populations such as AYA-SBs.
KW - spina bifida occulta
KW - mHealth
KW - mobile apps
KW - usability testing
KW - adolescent
KW - young adult
KW - weight reduction programs
KW - body weight maintenance
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/15153
UR - https://ecommons.luc.edu/psychology_facpubs/92
U2 - 10.2196/15153
DO - 10.2196/15153
M3 - Article
VL - 2
JO - JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
JF - JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
IS - 2
ER -