User-centered Design Approach Research Articles

#TEBWorks: Engaging Youth in a Community-Based Participatory Research and User-Centered Design Approach to Intervention Adaptation

#TEBWorks: Engaging Youth in a Community-Based Participatory Research and User-Centered Design Approach to Intervention Adaptation

Identifying Factors of User Acceptance of a Drone-Based Medication Delivery: User-Centered Design Approach.

The use of drones in the health care sector is increasingly being discussed against the background of the aging population and the growing shortage of skilled workers. In particular, the use of drones to provide medication in rural areas could bring advantages for the care of people with and without a need for care. However, there are hardly any data available that focus on the interaction between humans and drones. This study aims to disclose and analyze factors associated with user acceptance of drone-based medication delivery to derive practice-relevant guidance points for participatory technology development (for apps and drones). A controlled mixed methods study was conducted that supports the technical development process of an app design for drone-assisted drug delivery based on a participatory research design. For the quantitative analysis, established and standardized survey instruments to capture technology acceptance, such as the System Usability Scale; Technology Usage Inventory (TUI); and the Motivation, Engagement, and Thriving in User Experience model, were used. To avoid possible biasing effects from a continuous user development (eg, response shifts and learning effects), an ad hoc group was formed at each of the 3 iterative development steps and was subsequently compared with the consisting core group, which went through all 3 iterations. The study found a positive correlation between the usability of a pharmacy drone app and participants' willingness to use it (r=0.833). Participants' perception of usefulness positively influenced their willingness to use the app (r=0.487; TUI). Skepticism had a negative impact on perceived usability and willingness to use it (r=-0.542; System Usability Scale and r=-0.446; TUI). The study found that usefulness, skepticism, and curiosity explained most of the intention to use the app (F3,17=21.12; P<.001; R2=0.788; adjusted R2=0.751). The core group showed higher ratings on the intention to use the pharmacy drone app than the ad hoc groups. Results of the 2-tailed t tests showed a higher rating on usability for the third iteration of the core group compared with the first iteration. With the help of the participatory design, important aspects of acceptance could be revealed by the people involved in relation to drone-assisted drug delivery. For example, the length of time spent using the technology is an important factor for the intention to use the app. Technology-specific factors such as user-friendliness or curiosity are directly related to the use acceptance of the drone app. Results of this study showed that the more participants perceived their own competence in handling the app, the more they were willing to use the technology and the more they rated the app as usable.

Smart and Resilient Mobility Services Platform for Managing Traffic Disruptive Events

This article aims to develop a smart mobility solution to enhance the travel experience of individuals facing traffic disruptive events. Unlike prior research focusing on isolated solutions for managing these events, this study takes a holistic approach combining real-time monitoring, predictive modeling, route guidance, and effective communication to create efficient traffic disruption management. The study introduces the Smart and Resilient Mobility Services Platform (SRMS), specifically designed to address mobility restrictions as a form of disruptive events in the Palestinian territories, West Bank. SRMS empowers users to make well-informed decisions by providing services such as real-time mapping of mobility restrictions, a prompt notification system, informal route mapping, and alternative path suggestions. Moreover, it aims to enhance engagement among travelers and citizens by adopting spatial crowdsourcing as the primary data source for potential restrictions and embracing the User-Centered Design (UCD) approach to enrich users’ interaction with the developed solution. The methodology involves presenting the architectural layering system of the SRMS platform, and detailing the prototyping and design development considering the UCD approach. Results present the practical implementation of the SRMS tailored to the Palestinian context and adopted UCD.

Translating a motivational interviewing intervention for childhood cancer survivors into an eHealth tool: A user-centered design process.

Childhood cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing cardiomyopathy than members of the general population. Screening echocardiograms can facilitate early detection and treatment of cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, motivational interviewing can increase uptake of cardiac screening. However, such approaches are time- and resource-intensive, which limits their reach to the survivors who need them. We describe how we utilized a user-centered design process to translate an in-person motivational interviewing intervention into an eHealth tool to improve cardiac screening among childhood cancer survivors. We used an iterative, three-phase, user-centered design approach: (i) setting the stage (convening advisory boards and reviewing the original intervention), (ii) content programming and development (writing and programming intervention text and flow), and (iii) intervention testing (research team testing and cognitive interviews.) For cognitive interviews, participants were recruited via institutional participant registries and medical records. Data were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis. During Phase 1, we identified survivor and provider advisors and outlined elements of the in-person intervention to change for the eHealth tool. During Phases 2 and 3, advisors recommended several modifications that guided the final intervention content and flow. Examples include: acknowledging potential hesitation or apprehension surrounding medical screenings, addressing barriers and facilitators to obtaining screening, and improving the tool's usability and appeal. In Phase 3, cognitive interview participants suggested additional refinements to the intervention language. This translation process shows that continued in-depth engagement of community advisors and iterative testing can improve the applicability of an eHealth to survivors' lived experiences and social contexts.

User-Centered Development of a Patient Decision Aid for Choice of Early Abortion Method: Multi-Cycle Mixed Methods Study.

People seeking abortion in early pregnancy have the choice between medication and procedural options for care. The choice is preference-sensitive-there is no clinically superior option and the choice depends on what matters most to the individual patient. Patient decision aids (PtDAs) are shared decision-making tools that support people in making informed, values-aligned health care choices. We aimed to develop and evaluate the usability of a web-based PtDA for the Canadian context, where abortion care is publicly funded and available without legal restriction. We used a systematic, user-centered design approach guided by principles of integrated knowledge translation. We first developed a prototype using available evidence for abortion seekers' decisional needs and the risks, benefits, and consequences of each option. We then refined the prototype through think-aloud interviews with participants at risk of unintended pregnancy ("patient" participants). Interviews were audio-recorded and documented through field notes. Finally, we conducted a web-based survey of patients and health care professionals involved with abortion care, which included the System Usability Scale. We used content analysis to identify usability issues described in the field notes and open-ended survey questions, and descriptive statistics to summarize participant characteristics and close-ended survey responses. A total of 61 individuals participated in this study. Further, 11 patients participated in think-aloud interviews. Overall, the response to the PtDA was positive; however, the content analysis identified issues related to the design, language, and information about the process and experience of obtaining abortion care. In response, we adapted the PtDA into an interactive website and revised it to include consistent and plain language, additional information (eg, pain experience narratives), and links to additional resources on how to find an abortion health care professional. In total, 25 patients and 25 health care professionals completed the survey. The mean System Usability Scale score met the threshold for good usability among both patient and health care professional participants. Most participants felt that the PtDA was user-friendly (patients: n=25, 100%; health care professionals: n=22, 88%), was not missing information (patients: n=21, 84%; health care professionals: n=18, 72%), and that it was appropriate for patients to complete the PtDA before a consultation (patients: n=23, 92%; health care professionals: n=23, 92%). Open-ended responses focused on improving usability by reducing the length of the PtDA and making the website more mobile-friendly. We systematically designed the PtDA to address an unmet need to support informed, values-aligned decision-making about the method of abortion. The design process responded to a need identified by potential users and addressed unique sensitivities related to reproductive health decision-making.

Promoting a Patient-Centered Understanding of Safety in Acute Mental Health Wards: A User-Centered Design Approach to Develop a Real-Time Digital Monitoring Tool.

Acute mental health services report high levels of safety incidents that involve both patients and staff. The potential for patients to be involved in interventions to improve safety within a mental health setting is acknowledged, and there is a need for interventions that proactively seek the patient perspective of safety. Digital technologies may offer opportunities to address this need. This research sought to design and develop a digital real-time monitoring tool (WardSonar) to collect and collate daily information from patients in acute mental health wards about their perceptions of safety. We present the design and development process and underpinning logic model and programme theory. The first stage involved a synthesis of the findings from a systematic review and evidence scan, interviews with patients (n=8) and health professionals (n=17), and stakeholder engagement. Cycles of design activities and discussion followed with patients, staff, and stakeholder groups, to design and develop the prototype tool. We drew on patient safety theory and the concepts of contagion and milieu. The data synthesis, design, and development process resulted in three prototype components of the digital monitoring tool (WardSonar): (1) a patient recording interface that asks patients to input their perceptions into a tablet computer, to assess how the ward feels and whether the direction is changing, that is, "getting worse" or "getting better"; (2) a staff dashboard and functionality to interrogate the data at different levels; and (3) a public-facing ward interface. The technology is available as open-source code. Recent patient safety policy and research priorities encourage innovative approaches to measuring and monitoring safety. We developed a digital real-time monitoring tool to collect information from patients in acute mental health wards about perceived safety, to support staff to respond and intervene to changes in the clinical environment more proactively.

StepsBooster-S: A Culturally Tailored Step-Based Persuasive Application for Promoting Physical Activity

An inactive lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of health problems. The combination of mobile step-trackers and persuasive strategies can be considered useful tools for encouraging physical activity. This paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of a culturally tailored persuasive app to motivate physical activity. For this research, we developed a step-tracking app, StepsBooster-S, that is tailored to be culturally appropriate for Saudi adults using the user-centred design approach. A 10-day in-the-wild study was conducted with 30 participants to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the app using a mixed-methods approach. Results showed that StepsBooster-S is generally effective; however, it led to a highly significant increase in physical activity among the Saudis compared to Canadians. Our results also showed that the Saudi audience engaged more with the app, reported more positive experience from using the app, and enjoyed the collectivists-oriented features such as cooperation more than the Canadian audience. We conclude that persuasive health apps, especially those that are targeted at physical activity, are more effective if they are tailored to be culturally appropriate for the target audience. These findings reinforce the importance of cultural factors for designing technologies that motivate behaviour change.

Usability Evaluation and Interface Design Improvement for the Maxim Application with User-Centered Design Approach

The research focused on the user interface of the Maxim application, a ride-hailing service in Indonesia facing usability challenges compared to its competitors, such as Gojek, Grab, and inDrive. The study aimed to identify user issues and propose alternative interface designs to enhance usability. The User-Centered Design (UCD) approach was adopted, involving two iterative phases that yielded high-fidelity designs. Through online surveys and interviews, 77 problem categories were identified, adhering to Usability Heuristic principles, and 93 design solutions were crafted based on Shneiderman's Eight Golden Rules of Interface Design. Subsequently, the design solutions were evaluated through moderated usability testing (UT) and the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire distribution. The second iteration's UT results indicated improved success rates, reduced task completion times, higher SUS scores, and positive user feedback on ease of use. In conclusion, this research improved the application's usability and offered valuable recommendations for further enhancements and future investigations.

Oral Health Education for Children: Development of a Serious Game with a User-Centered Design Approach.

Background: Children can learn efficiently with well-designed serious games. The use of applications to promote health has proliferated, but there is a lack of scientific studies on educational games in oral health. Materials and Methods: We developed the Brazilian version of a British and Jordanian oral health education game for children from the perspectives of Brazilian specialists and users. This descriptive study, with a qualitative and quantitative approach, comprised three phases: I-Experts' discussion of the appropriateness of the previous version of the game to Brazil; II-Development of the first Brazilian version of the game; and III-Evaluation of the first version with 15 children from 4 to 8 years of age. Results: In Phase I, the specialists agreed with the development of the Brazilian version of the game, with minor adjustments on: advice on eating; advice on oral hygiene habits, users' age group, game characters, and game purpose. Phase II: a version with a few changes in images and recommendations, written and spoken in Brazilian Portuguese. Phase III: The global average of correct answers in the game's tasks was 75.3%, ranging from 50.0% to 100%. Children reported having fun with the game, and most understood the content and its interface; their parents found the information relevant and enjoyed the gameplay with their children. Conclusions: The Oral Health Education Game offered basic information for preventing dental caries to Brazilian children aged 4-8 years old in an interactive and fun way; it could support professionals in improving oral health education.

Integrated Approach for Early Detection and Prevention of Abnormal Child Growth: A Kansei Design and Quality Function Deployment Study

Sustainable development aims to reduce inequalities, including health inequalities. Focusing on early identification and prevention of growth and developmental disorders, as advocated in the article, contributes to reducing health disparities, which is a key aspect of sustainability. This article delves into the significance of assessing an individual’s physique as an initial diagnostic method for evaluating well-being, addressing both physical and mental health aspects. Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess anthropometric height/weight attributes, aiding in nutrition evaluation and categorization, contributing to the promotion of healthy lives and well-being. The focus lies on growth monitoring for infants and children. The stunting not only impacts mental and physical development but also contributes to lifelong health disparities. Indonesia ranks fifth in global stunting cases. The government aims to reduce stunting by 14% in 2024, employing specific nutritional interventions. Stunting’s consequences span increased illness rates, compromised growth and learning, susceptibility to diseases in adulthood, and diminished productivity. Early identification and prevention are essential, with Posyandu serving as a platform for community-driven health progress. Regarding the early detection of stunting, it is imperative to involve healthcare workers in the design process of growth monitoring tools and interventions. This ensures that these tools and interventions are practical and user-friendly in real-world scenarios. Utilizing user-centered design approaches like Kansei Design Thinking and Quality Function Deployment can lead to the development of more effective and engaging tools and interventions.

Enhancing User Experience: Exploring Mobile Augmented Reality Experiences

In recent years, the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology into mobile devices has revolutionized both human-computer interaction and computer graphics. This transformative blend of virtual elements into the physical world has led to a new era of possibilities for user experiences. However, the unique challenges posed by Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) applications demand a closer examination of design and usability considerations to ensure optimal user engagement and satisfaction. This study investigates users' experiences with Mobile Augmented Reality applications, with particular emphasis on design and usability-related concerns. Using a controlled experiment with twenty different people, this study uses thematic analysis to investigate UX improvement options. The aim is to furnish practical design principles that consider the individual characteristics and preferences of users, thereby contributing to the development of empirical insights that enhance Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) standards and best practices. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of user-centered design and assessment approaches. This work fills important gaps in the literature on UX studies of MAR applications and advances our knowledge of creating, engaging and easy-to-use augmented reality experiences.

Informing the Design of an Accessible Arabic Typeface: A Visual Analysis to Identify Letterform Features of Dyslexia-Friendly Typefaces

Dyslexia-friendly typefaces for the Latin script have been proliferating during the past decade. The typefaces are designed to tackle the challenges faced in a dyslexic reading experience by manipulating their letter forms and typographic attributes; several studies reported a positive effect on the reading experience. To this date, no working dyslexia-friendly Arabic typefaces are available for the public. The present study is part of a larger practice-based research, where a novel dyslexia-friendly Arabic typeface is designed using a user-centred design approach. The current visual analysis marks the developmental phase, identifying the letterform features of dyslexia-friendly Latin typefaces that can be mapped to the Arabic script. This article explores the typographic features of dyslexia-friendly Latin typefaces by conducting a qualitative visual analysis; a proposed modified version of Leeuwen’s Typographic Distinctive Features Framework is employed. The results are discussed considering the Arabic script’s visual implications in a dyslexic reading experience. The findings of this study are used to create a list of design considerations for a dyslexia-friendly Arabic typeface.

Adapting mHealth Interventions (PrEPmate and DOT Diary) to Support PrEP Retention in Care and Adherence Among English and Spanish-Speaking Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in the United States: Formative Work and Pilot Randomized Trial.

A growing number of mobile health (mHealth) technologies are being developed to support HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence and persistence; however, most tools have focused on men who have sex with men (MSM), and few are available in Spanish. To maximize the potential impact of these tools in reducing gender and racial/ethnic disparities and promoting health equity, mHealth tools tailored to Spanish-speaking people and transgender women are critically needed. The aim of this study is to adapt and tailor 2 mHealth technologies, PrEPmate and DOT Diary, to support daily PrEP adherence and persistence among Spanish-speaking MSM and English- and Spanish-speaking transgender women and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of these tools. PrEPmate, an interactive, bidirectional, text messaging intervention that promotes personalized communication between PrEP users and providers, and DOT Diary, a mobile app that promotes self-management of PrEP use and sexual health through an integrated electronic pill-taking and sexual activity diary, were previously developed for English-speaking MSM. We conducted 3 focus groups with 15 English- and Spanish-speaking transgender women and MSM in San Francisco and Miami to culturally tailor these tools for these priority populations. We then conducted a 1-month technical pilot among 21 participants to assess the usability and acceptability of the adapted interventions and optimize the functionality of these tools. Participants in focus groups liked the "human touch" of text messages in PrEPmate and thought it would be helpful for scheduling appointments and asking questions. They liked the daily reminder messages, especially the fun facts, gender affirmations, and transgender history topics. Participants recommended changes to tailor the language and messages for Spanish-speaking and transgender populations. For DOT Diary, participants liked the adherence tracking and protection level feedback and thought the calendar functions were easy to use. Based on participant recommendations, we tailored language within the app for Spanish-speaking MSM and transgender women, simplified the sexual diary, and added motivational badges. In the technical pilot of the refined tools, mean System Usability Scale scores were 81.2/100 for PrEPmate and 76.4/100 for DOT Diary (P=.48), falling in the "good" to "excellent" range, and mean Client Satisfaction Questionnaire scores were 28.6 and 28.3 for PrEPmate and DOT Diary, respectively (maximum possible score=32). Use of both tools was high over the 1-month pilot (average of 10.5 messages received from each participant for PrEPmate; average of 17.6 times accessing the DOT Diary app), indicating good feasibility for both tools. Using a user-centered design approach, we culturally tailored PrEPmate and DOT Diary to support daily PrEP use among Spanish-speaking MSM and English- and Spanish-speaking transgender women. Our positive findings in a technical pilot support further testing of these mHealth interventions in an upcoming comparative effectiveness trial.

A Comprehensive User Experience Analysis of Cultural Heritage Progressive Web App Using a Hybrid UEQ-IPA Approach

This study utilised a user-centred design approach integrated into the Agile framework to develop Sarawak Cultural Heritage Progressive Web Apps (SCHPWA). The user experience (UX) of SCHPWA was evaluated using a combination of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to measure six dimensions of UX. The evaluation involved 239 participants, comprising 184 females and 55 males. The results indicated that the SCHPWA scored above average in attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, and stimulation. However, the dimensions of novelty and dependability scored below average. Therefore, the attributes related to attractiveness, efficiency, stimulation, and perspicuity are grouped using IPA under Quadrant 2 (Possible Overkill), while novelty and dependability fall under Quadrant 3 (Low Priority). The study highlights the benefits of using a combination of UEQ and IPA for evaluating Progressive Web Applications (PWA). Furthermore, it suggests the potential to improve the UX of cultural heritage PWAs. These findings offer insights for designers and developers in optimising the UX of cultural heritage PWA.

Implementation of the User Centered Design (UCD) Method for MSME E-commerce

Web and mobile-based application development for MSMEs is very necessary to help marketing and increase revenue. A user-centered design (UCD) approach that actively involves users at every stage of the design process for product development becomes more effective and efficient, resulting in E-commerce applications that are designed together with users to produce applications that suit the needs of local MSME users

Development of Event Management System in Professional Organization of Indonesian Professional Assessors Association (IASPRO) Using User Centered Design Method

An organization usually has events that need to be publicized to the wider community. The Indonesian Professional Assessors Association (IASPRO) only uses social media to publicize events such as seminars, workshops, or other events that are held. As a result, many organizational members or potential participants do not know that the event is being held or are even confused about registering and finding out what the participant quota for the event is. To make it easier for potential participants, a system is needed to organize event publication and registration. Therefore, an event management system is created, namely a web-based application with a User-centered Design approach. The use of the User-centered Design method aims to produce a system that suits the needs and comfort of the user. At the testing stage, the author uses the System Usability Scale method to evaluate the system interface, and black box testing to measure software functionality and ensure the software meets user needs. Test results using the System Usability Scale obtained an Acceptability range value of 81.67 with Grade A, with these results it is certain that users are satisfied with the current interface design.&#x0D; Keywords: system, event management, UCD, web-based,; organization

Development and usability testing of a cognitive-behavioral therapy-guided self-help mobile app and social media group for the post-acute treatment of anorexia nervosa

ObjectiveAnorexia nervosa (AN) is often treated in the acute setting, but relapse after treatment is common. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is useful in the post-acute period, but access to trained providers is limited. Social support is also critical during this period. This study utilized a user-centered design approach to develop and evaluate the usability of a CBT-based mobile app and social networking component for post-acute AN support. MethodParticipants (N = 19) were recently discharged from acute treatment for AN. Usability testing of the intervention was conducted over three cycles; assessments included the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (USE), the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), a social media questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview. ResultsInterview feedback detailed aspects of the app that participants enjoyed and those needing improvement. Feedback converged on three themes: Logistical App Feedback, boosting recovery, and Real-World App/Social Media Use. USE and MARS scores were above average and SUS scores were “good” to “excellent” across cycles. ConclusionThis study provides evidence of feasibility and acceptability of an app and social networking feature for post-acute care of AN. The intervention has potential for offering scalable support for individuals with AN in the high-risk period following discharge from acute care.

Developing an Online Health Community Platform for Facilitating Empowerment in Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

This study aimed to develop an online health community platform for facilitating the empowerment of people with chronic diseases dwelling in the community regarding disease prevention and health promotion. The user-centered design approach included four main steps: (1) identifying the health problems and needs of target users, (2) developing the content of the platform, (3) constructing the platform, and (4) pilot testing, refinement, and finalization. An online health community platform available both in a mobile application and a Web-enabled application has been launched to facilitate empowerment and self-management by people with chronic conditions. The main components of the application comprised (1) screening for chronic diseases and health problems, (2) setting personal goals for health promotion and action planning to achieve the goals themselves, (3) offering an online health community with shared group goals that help users engage with their peers to attain their goals, and (4) creating one's own online health community and inviting others to participate. The platform has the potential to encourage people with chronic conditions to proactively engage in their own health promotion. Future studies are needed to determine the impact of the application on self-management and empowerment for its users.

User requirement deployment for the proposition of a web mobile system in a university restaurant

This work consisted of mapping user requirements for proposing a mobile application at the university restaurant of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), using a user-centered design approach. The restaurant (RU) is an essential service for the academic community, and the proposal aims to improve users' experience by providing updated information on menus, opening hours, parking availability, virtual academic card, and meal evaluation. To achieve this goal, theoretical studies were conducted on user-centered design, service innovation, and the needs of RU users. Based on this information, the creation of software is proposed to allow users to easily access information about the daily menu, make meal reservations, check the balance on the academic card, and provide feedback on service quality. The user-centered design approach ensures that the tool is developed taking into account the needs and preferences of RU users. The tool has the potential to streamline the process of advance ticket purchases, reduce queues, and improve communication between users and the restaurant's staff. Additionally, user-centered design ensures that the tool is intuitive and easy to use for all users, contributing to a more positive experience at UFGD's RU.

Design and evaluation of a mobile application for enhancing farm management and performance assessment in fattening beef cattle.

This study aimed to develop a mobile application (app) specifically designed for enhancing farm management and performance assessment in fattening beef cattle. The development process followed a user-centered design approach, which involved focus group discussions and key informant interviews with 20 participants to design content and features. The app was developed for both mobile and web platforms. After the prototype and launch of the app, the system usability scale (SUS) and user satisfaction were assessed. The assessment findings identify the specific expected functions in the app, with the farm accounting records function being the most desired feature among users, followed by production analysis, production records, and resource inventory. The mean SUS score was calculated to be 75.17, indicating a qualitative assessment of "Good." The assessment of user satisfaction indicated that the mean satisfaction score for all participants was 4.26, suggesting a high level of satisfaction and a favorable perception of the app. This app provides an alternative way to record farm activity, suggest feed and feeding schedules, and provide financial management tools designed explicitly for small-scale beef cattle farmers.