Arevian AC, O'Hora J, Rosser J, Mango JD, Miklowitz DJ, Wells KB. Patient and Provider Cocreation of Mobile Texting Apps to Support Behavioral Health: Usability Study.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020;
8:e12655. [PMID:
32723714 PMCID:
PMC7424494 DOI:
10.2196/12655]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Mobile technologies hold potential for improving the quality of care and engagement of patients. However, there are considerable challenges in ensuring that technologies are relevant, useful, and engaging. While end users such as patients and providers are increasingly involved in the design of health technologies, there are limited examples of their involvement in directly creating technologies for their personal use.
Objective
We aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of patients and providers creating mobile texting apps to support treatment goals.
Methods
In an 11-month usability study, we enrolled 4 providers and 28 patients in an intensive outpatient program for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Patients and providers created their own mobile texting apps using a visual app development platform. A subsample of 10 patients and 4 providers completed a usability measure.
Results
Participants created a total of 360 unique mobile text messages (1787 total messages sent). There were 4 types of messages identified, including personalized reminders, clinical exposures, interactive prompts, and encouraging/informational messages. A total of 9 out of 10 (90%) patients agreed that the messages were relevant to their recovery, and 8 out of 10 (80%) agreed that the messages were effective at helping complete treatment plans.
Conclusions
Enabling patients and providers to cocreate apps for their own use by using a visual application platform is feasible and holds potential for increasing the relevance, sustainability, and effectiveness of digital health technologies.
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