NP10 - CHEW 2.0: User Testing of the Children Eating Well (CHEW) Smartphone Application for WIC Families

Abstract

Objective: Despite the vast benefits and positive health outcomes associated with WIC participation, enrollment in the program has continued to decline over the past five years. Barriers that limit ease of use of the program exist for many participants, including the WIC shopping experience. The Children Eating Well (CHEW) smartphone application (“app”) aims to increase redemption of WIC foods and improve overall diet quality of preschool-aged participants by facilitating benefit redemption and providing easy, practical ways for parents to increase consumption of healthy foods. The objective is to report on the findings of user testing during the preparation of version 2.0 of the CHEW app. Description: Building on the original CHEW prototype app, our team is conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups with WIC staff and families of WIC children in an iterative process to inform user-centered development of version 2.0 and to maximize usability of the app. Evaluation: Data collection and analysis are in progress. We will report on qualitative findings related to the user interface, user experience, improvement of shopping tools, and topics and format of nutrition education features. Conclusions and Implications: After completing development and field testing, the CHEW 2.0 app will be implemented in WIC clinics across the state of Tennessee as a supplemental education tool for families to use at home, with the potential for future dissemination to other states. These formative findings can also inform the development of other technology applications for the WIC program. Funding: 2017-68001-26352.