Babybyte: Usability Testing of a mHealth App Prototype to Improve Responsive Feeding Practices in Parents of Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

ObjectivesWith the recent addition of nutrition guidance for children under the age of 2 years to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines, new strategies are needed to communicate reputable feeding information to parents of infants and toddlers for optimal nutrition and prevention of early childhood obesity. The objective of this study was to determine usability of a mHealth app prototype (BabyByte) containing early childhood feeding guidance based on recommended responsive feeding practices for parents of children ages 0 to 2 years old. MethodsParents participated in one-on-one cognitive interviews about the basic use and navigation of BabyByte and were probed to locate specific sections within the app, read the information on each page, and complete interactive tasks. Interviews were conducted by a trained research assistant and recorded via Zoom software. Each participant also completed the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) to rate overall usability, ease of use, interface satisfaction, and usefulness based on a 7-point Likert Scale. Mean MAUQ scores were calculated, with higher scores indicating higher usability of the app. Interview audio files were transcribed verbatim and response themes were aggregated using a content analysis approach. ResultsParents (n = 20) were, on average, 30.7 years old with the majority self-reporting as white (95%), Hispanic (55%), having a bachelor’s degree or higher (65%), working full-time (55%), and currently married (80%). On average, parents agreed or strongly agreed (6.5 ± 0.7 out of 7) that the app had high usability based on the MAUQ results. Ease of use (6.64 ± 0.6), interface and satisfaction (6.4 ± 0.9), and usefulness (6.3 ± 1.0) of the app received high ratings. Interview responses indicated that parents found the app prototype to be user-friendly and intuitive. Suggestions included minor changes in delivery, layout, and addition of supplemental and interactive content thus demonstrating the fit of the mHealth app with parent needs and preferences. ConclusionsParents of children ages 0 to 2 years old favorably rated the usability of BabyByte. With further revisions and expansion, BabyByte may be a feasible intervention tool to improve responsive practices by parents and prevent early childhood obesity. Funding SourcesUniversity of Florida CTSI