Abstract
BackgroundGiven their growing popularity, mobile health (mHealth) apps may offer a viable method of delivering psychological interventions for people with an atypical appearance (ie, visible difference) who struggle with appearance-related distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third-wave cognitive behavioral approach, has been used effectively in mHealth and is being increasingly applied clinically to common psychosocial difficulties associated with visible differences. We planned to design an ACT-based mHealth intervention (ACT It Out) for this population.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to gain key stakeholder input from user representatives and psychological clinicians to optimize the intervention’s design for future development and uptake. To do so, we explored considerations relating to mHealth as a delivery platform for adults with visible differences and elicited stakeholders’ design preferences and ideas based on initial author-created content.MethodsWithin a participatory design framework, we used a mix of qualitative methods, including usability sessions and a focus group in a face-to-face workshop, and interviews and textual feedback collected remotely, all analyzed using template analysis. A total of 6 user representatives and 8 clinicians were recruited for this study.ResultsOur findings suggest that there are likely to be strengths and challenges of mHealth as an intervention platform for the study population, with key concerns being user safeguarding and program adherence. Participants expressed design preferences toward relatable human content, interactive and actionable features, flexibility of use, accessibility, and engaging content.ConclusionsThe findings offer valuable design directions for ACT It Out and related interventions, emphasizing the need to carefully guide users through the intervention while acknowledging the limited time and space that mHealth affords.
Highlights
BackgroundThere are multiple reasons why someone may have an unusual physical appearance, or visible difference
Some live with a visible difference from birth, such as people with congenital craniofacial conditions, whereas others acquire a difference as a result of skin disease, injury, and/or medical treatment
The researchers and lead clinician first sketched out a preliminary overview of ACT It Out, drawing from knowledge of ACT and self-help development as well as literature on ACT-based mobile health (mHealth) [29] and existing web-based programs for adults with visible differences [30]
Summary
BackgroundThere are multiple reasons why someone may have an unusual physical appearance, or visible difference. In the context of limited specialist face-to-face psychological services for adults with visible differences internationally [5], there is an established need for self-help interventions catering to the specific experiences of this population [6]. The aim of our overall project is to design, develop, and evaluate a standalone mHealth intervention, ACT It Out, for adults with visible differences experiencing appearance-related distress; to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first of its kind. Open up Attention on your 5 senses Given their growing popularity, mobile health (mHealth) apps may offer a viable method of delivering psychological interventions for people with an atypical appearance (ie, visible difference) who struggle with appearance-related distress. We explored considerations relating to mHealth as a delivery platform for adults with visible differences and elicited stakeholders’ design preferences and ideas based on initial author-created content. Conclusions: The findings offer valuable design directions for ACT It Out and related interventions, emphasizing the need to carefully guide users through the intervention while acknowledging the limited time and space that mHealth affords
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