TY - JOUR
T1 - A uniquely targeted, mobile app-based HIV prevention intervention for young transgender women
T2 - Adaptation and usability study
AU - Kuhns, Lisa M.
AU - Hereth, Jane
AU - Garofalo, Robert
AU - Hidalgo, Marco
AU - Johnson, Amy K.
AU - Schnall, Rebecca
AU - Reisner, Sari L.
AU - Belzer, Marvin
AU - Mimiaga, Matthew J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Ebonii Warren-Watts and Kacey Draine for their contributions to the mobile app design. The authors also thank Nathanael Nash for assistance with data collection, Marbella Cervantes for data management, and Jenny Olson for study coordination assistance. This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number R56 MH113684. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The study sponsor had no role in the design of the study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Journal of Medical Internet Research. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - Background: Young transgender women (YTW) are a key population for HIV-related risk reduction, yet very few interventions have been developed to meet their needs. Mobile health interventions with the potential for both efficacy and wide reach are a promising strategy to reduce HIV risk among YTW. Objective: This study aims to adapt an efficacious group-based intervention to a mobile app, Project LifeSkills, to reduce HIV risk among YTW, and to test its acceptability and usability. Methods: The group-based intervention was adapted to a mobile app, LifeSkills Mobile, with input from an expert advisory group and feedback from YTW collected during user-centered design sessions. A beta version of the app was then tested in a usability evaluation using a think-aloud protocol with debriefing interviews, recordings of screen activity, and assessments of usability via the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) and the Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale (Health-ITUES). Results: YTW (n=8; age: mean 24 years, SD 3 years; racial or ethnic minority: 7/8, 88%) provided feedback on the app prototype in design sessions and then tested a beta version of the app in a usability trial (n=10; age: mean 24 years, SD 3 years; racial or ethnic minority: 8/10, 80%). Both usability ratings (Health-ITUES: mean 4.59, SD 0.86; scale range: 1-5) and ratings for satisfaction and accessibility (PSSUQ: mean 4.64, SD 0.90; scale range 1-5) were in the good to excellent range. No functional bugs were identified, and all mobile activities were deployed as expected. Participant feedback from the usability interviews indicated very good salience of the intervention content among the focal population. Participants' suggestions to further increase app engagement included adding animation, adding audio, and reducing the amount text. Conclusions: We conclude that the LifeSkills Mobile app is a highly usable and engaging mobile app for HIV prevention among YTW.
AB - Background: Young transgender women (YTW) are a key population for HIV-related risk reduction, yet very few interventions have been developed to meet their needs. Mobile health interventions with the potential for both efficacy and wide reach are a promising strategy to reduce HIV risk among YTW. Objective: This study aims to adapt an efficacious group-based intervention to a mobile app, Project LifeSkills, to reduce HIV risk among YTW, and to test its acceptability and usability. Methods: The group-based intervention was adapted to a mobile app, LifeSkills Mobile, with input from an expert advisory group and feedback from YTW collected during user-centered design sessions. A beta version of the app was then tested in a usability evaluation using a think-aloud protocol with debriefing interviews, recordings of screen activity, and assessments of usability via the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) and the Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale (Health-ITUES). Results: YTW (n=8; age: mean 24 years, SD 3 years; racial or ethnic minority: 7/8, 88%) provided feedback on the app prototype in design sessions and then tested a beta version of the app in a usability trial (n=10; age: mean 24 years, SD 3 years; racial or ethnic minority: 8/10, 80%). Both usability ratings (Health-ITUES: mean 4.59, SD 0.86; scale range: 1-5) and ratings for satisfaction and accessibility (PSSUQ: mean 4.64, SD 0.90; scale range 1-5) were in the good to excellent range. No functional bugs were identified, and all mobile activities were deployed as expected. Participant feedback from the usability interviews indicated very good salience of the intervention content among the focal population. Participants' suggestions to further increase app engagement included adding animation, adding audio, and reducing the amount text. Conclusions: We conclude that the LifeSkills Mobile app is a highly usable and engaging mobile app for HIV prevention among YTW.
KW - HIV
KW - MHealth
KW - Mobile app
KW - Mobile phone
KW - Transgender persons
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U2 - 10.2196/21839
DO - 10.2196/21839
M3 - Article
C2 - 33787503
AN - SCOPUS:85103542860
VL - 23
JO - Journal of Medical Internet Research
JF - Journal of Medical Internet Research
SN - 1439-4456
IS - 3
M1 - e21839
ER -
