Objective
To describe the process of adapting an integrated medical and psychiatric self-management
intervention to a smartphone application for middle-aged and older adults with serious
mental illness using an adaptive systems engineering framework and user-centered design.
Methods
First, we determined the technical abilities and needs of middle-aged and older adults
with serious mental illnesses using smartphones. Then, we developed smartphone content
through principles of user-centered design and modified an existing smartphone platform.
Finally, we conducted a usability test using “think aloud” and verbal probing.
Results
We adapted a psychosocial self-management intervention to a smartphone application
and tested its usability. Ten participants (mean age: 55.3 years, SD: 6.2 years) with
serious mental illness and comorbid chronic health conditions reported a high level
of usability and satisfaction with the smartphone application.
Conclusions
Middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness and limited technical abilities
were able to participate in a process involving user-centered design and adaptation
of a self-management intervention to be delivered by a smartphone. High usability
ratings suggest that middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness have
the potential to use tailored smartphone interventions. Future research is indicated
to establish effectiveness and to determine the type and intensity of clinical support
needed to successfully implement smartphone applications as a component of community-based
services for older adults with psychiatric and medical conditions.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 05, 2017
Accepted:
December 12,
2016
Received in revised form:
November 17,
2016
Received:
May 2,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
