scholarly journals User Preferences and Persona Design for an mHealth Intervention to Support Adherence to Cardiovascular Disease Medication in Singapore: A Multi-Method Study

10.2196/10465 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. e10465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Haldane ◽  
Joel Jun Kai Koh ◽  
Aastha Srivastava ◽  
Krichelle Wei Qi Teo ◽  
Yao Guo Tan ◽  
...  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Haldane ◽  
Joel Jun Kai Koh ◽  
Aastha Srivastava ◽  
Krichelle Wei Qi Teo ◽  
Yao Guo Tan ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The use of mobile health (mHealth) has gained popularity globally, including for its use in a variety of health interventions, particularly through short message service (SMS) text messaging. However, there are challenges to the use of mHealth, particularly among older users who have a large heterogeneity in usability and accessibility barriers when using technology. OBJECTIVE In order to better understand and conceptualize the diversity of users and give insight into their particular needs, we turned to persona creation. Personas are user archetypes created through data generated from multi-method inquiry with actual target users. Personas are an appropriate yet largely underutilized component of current mHealth research. METHODS Leveraging data from a multi-method study conducted in Singapore with an ethnically diverse population including Chinese, Malay, and Indian participants, we used a proforma to analyze data from the qualitative component (ie, 20 in-depth interviews) and quantitative component (ie, 100 interviewer-guided surveys). We then identified key characteristics, including technology use and preferences as well as adherence factors, to synthesize five personas reflective of persons over the age of 40 years in Singapore with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors, such as hypertension. RESULTS We present five personas typologized as (1) The Quiet Analog, (2) The Busy Grandparent, (3) The Socializer, (4) The Newly Diagnosed, and (5) The Hard-to-Reach. We report on four key characteristics: health care access, medication adherence, mobile phone technology usage (ie, ownership, access, and utilization), and interest in mHealth. Finally, we provide insights into how these personas may be used in the design and implementation of an mHealth intervention. Our work demonstrates how multi-method data can create biopsychosocial personas that can be used to explore and address the diversity in behaviors, preferences, and needs in user groups. CONCLUSIONS With wider adoption of mHealth, it is important that we consider user-centered design techniques and design thinking in order to create meaningful, patient-centered interventions for adherence to medications. Future research in this area should include greater exploration of how these five personas can be used to better understand how and when is best to deliver mHealth interventions in Singapore and beyond.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brodie M Sakakibara ◽  
Santabhanu Chakrabarti ◽  
Andrew Krahn ◽  
Martha H Mackay ◽  
Tara Sedlak ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of hospitalization and death around the world. The prevalence of CVD is increasing and, therefore, development and investigation of effective programs to help people better self-manage their CVD and prevent secondary complications are needed. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we report on a protocol to evaluate Healing Circles—an evidence-based and patient-informed peer support mobile health program designed to facilitate self-management and support patients in their recovery from and management of CVD. We hypothesize that individuals with CVD who use Healing Circles will experience greater improvements to their self-management ability than individuals receiving usual care. METHODS In this single-blinded (assessor) randomized controlled trial, 250 community-living individuals with CVD will be randomized on a 1:1 basis to either Healing Circles or Usual Care. The primary outcome of self-management will be measured using the Health Education Impact Questionnaire version 3.0. Secondary outcomes include self-efficacy with chronic disease management, health-related quality of life, health resource use and costs, and electronic health literacy. Measurements will be taken at the baseline and every 6 months for 24 months. RESULTS The study started recruitment in September 2017. Individuals are currently being recruited for participation, and existing participants are currently on follow-up. Measurements will be taken every 6 months until the study end, which is anticipated in December 2019. CONCLUSIONS Healing Circles is a novel program aimed toward improving self-management through peer support. Given our real-world study design, our findings will be readily translatable into practice. If the results support our hypothesis, it will indicate that Healing Circles is an effective intervention for improving self-management and reducing health care use. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03159325; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03159325 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/74DvxVKUd) INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR DERR1-10.2196/12322


Author(s):  
Victoria Haldane ◽  
Yao Guo Tan ◽  
Krichelle Wei Qi Teo ◽  
Joel Jun Kai Koh ◽  
Aastha Srivastava ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), is a growing public health threat globally and many individuals remain undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled. Simultaneously, mobile health (mHealth) interventions using short messaging service (SMS) have gained popularity globally. There is an opportunity for innovative approaches such as mHealth to encourage and enable adherence to medications for ASCVD and its risk factors. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand mobile technology acceptance, use, and facilitating conditions among the study population ahead of the design of an mHealth intervention. METHODS Using data from a mixed-methods study conducted in Singapore, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with 100 participants and in-depth, semistructured interviews with 20 patients. All participants were over the age of 40 years with ASCVD or its risk factors. Interviews were conducted in English and Mandarin and if needed translated to English. Nvivo 11 (QSR International) was used for analyses. RESULTS Participants reported their perspectives on technology use and preferences, including low or sporadic mobile phone use and usability concerns including small screen and text size, among others; the benefit of previous mHealth use in creating a favorable opinion of SMS for health information; trust in both the source of mHealth SMS, as well as in treatment; the formation of habits; and fear of sequelae or death for facilitating intention to use an mHealth intervention and adhere to medication. We also highlighted a case that underscored the importance of the period after diagnosis in habit forming as an opportunity for an mHealth intervention. CONCLUSIONS We explored both technology- and adherence-related factors that influence a patient’s intention to use an mHealth intervention for adherence to ASCVD medication in Singapore. We highlighted the importance of identifying the right opportunity to engage with patients and promote an mHealth intervention for adherence, such as immediately following diagnosis when patients are establishing medication-taking habits.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynnette N Lyzwinski ◽  
Liam J Caffery ◽  
Matthew Bambling ◽  
Sisira Edirippulige

Introduction With increasing development and use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions for weight loss in overweight and obese populations, it is timely to gain greater insight into consumer experience with these technologies. The aims of this review were to identify common themes across studies that included user preferences for mHealth intervention for weight loss. Methods The databases PubMed (Medline), CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for relevant qualitative studies on mHealth for weight loss. Searches were conducted in May 2016. Results Several common high preference themes were identified relating to simple and attractive apps that allowed for self-monitoring with feedback. The five key themes concerning text messages for weight loss involved a careful consideration of personalization, message tone, structure, frequency and content. Key optimization themes for weight loss apps were personalization, simplicity with appeal and engagement/entertainment. Common identified benefits of mHealth for weight loss included self-monitoring, goal setting, feedback, ability to motivate, educate, and remind. Common barriers users identified were related to technological and psychological issues as well as message overload/inappropriate timing of messages. Conclusion When planning an mHealth weight loss intervention, critical factors are the message tone, structure and the frequency of message delivery. Personalization also seems to be important. Designing simple apps while still ensuring that they engage the user is also essential. Additionally, it seems important to tailor the content in accordance with different target group demographic preferences. The successful reach and adoption of mHealth interventions requires minimizing perceived barriers and maximizing perceived benefits.


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