
Creating an mHealth App for Colorectal Cancer Screening: User-Centered Design Approach
Author(s) -
Lauren Griffin,
Donghee N. Lee,
Alyssa Jaisle,
Peter J. Carek,
Thomas J. George,
Eric B. Laber,
Benjamin Lok,
François Modave,
Electra D. Paskett,
Janice L. Krieger
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jmir human factors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2292-9495
DOI - 10.2196/12700
Subject(s) - mhealth , popularity , usability , mobile apps , context (archaeology) , user centered design , computer science , internet privacy , world wide web , medicine , human–computer interaction , psychology , nursing , psychological intervention , social psychology , paleontology , biology
Background Patients are increasingly using mobile health (mHealth) apps to monitor their health and educate themselves about medical issues. Despite the increasing popularity of such apps, poor design and usability often lead to suboptimal continued use of these apps and subsequently to poor adherence to the behavior changes at which they are aimed. One solution to these design problems is for app developers to use user-centered design (UCD) principles to consider the context and needs of users during the development process. Objective This study aimed to present a case study on the design and development process for an mHealth app that uses virtual human technology (VHT) to encourage colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among patients aged 50 years and above. Methods We have first provided an overview of the project and discussed its utilization of VHT. We have then reviewed UCD principles and how they can be incorporated into the development of health apps. We have described how we used UCD processes during the app’s development. We have then discussed the unique roles played by communication researchers, computer scientists, clinicians, and community participants in creating an mHealth app that is credible, usable, effective, and accessible to its target audience. Results The principles of UCD were woven throughout the project development, with researchers collecting feedback from patients and providers at all stages and using that feedback to improve the credibility, usability, effectiveness, and accessibility of the mHealth app. The app was designed in an iterative process, which encouraged feedback and improvement of the app and allowed teams from different fields to revisit topics and troubleshoot problems. Conclusions Implementing a UCD process contributed to the development of an app, which not only reflected cross-disciplinary expertise but also the needs, wants, and concerns of patients.