Use of Design Science for Informing the Development of a Mobile App for Persons Living with HIV

Mobile health (mHealth) technology presents opportunities to enhance chronic illness management, which is especially relevant for persons living with HIV (PLWH). Since mHealth technology comprises evolving and adaptable hardware and software, it provides many challenging design problems. To address this challenge, our methods were guided by the Information System Research (ISR) framework. This paper focuses on the Design Cycle of the ISR framework in which we used user-centered distributed information design methods and participatory action research methods to inform the design of a mobile application (app) for PLWH. In the first design session, participants (N=5) identified features that are optimal for meeting the treatment and management needs of PLWH. In the second design session, participants (N=6) were presented with findings from the first design session and pictures of existing apps. Findings from the Design Cycle will be evaluated with usability inspection methods. Using a systematic approach has the potential to improve mHealth functionality and use and subsequent impact.