Adapting a Telephone-Based, Dyadic Self-management Program to Be Delivered Over the Web: Methodology and Usability...

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Behavioral science
• Chronic disease management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for digital health solutions to support individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers.
• Existing interventions often focus solely on patient outcomes, necessitating dyadic approaches.
• Technology-enabled interventions are crucial for simultaneously improving patient and caregiver well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt a telephone-based dyadic self-management program (SUCCEED) into a self-guided, web-based format (web-SUCCEED).
• To evaluate the usability of the newly developed web-SUCCEED platform through testing with target users.

Main Methods:

• The adaptation process involved six steps: ideation, prototyping, prototype refinement via focus groups, content finalization, programming, and usability testing.
• A multidisciplinary team, including content experts, web designers, patients, and caregivers, contributed to the development.
• Usability testing involved veterans with chronic conditions and their caregivers, assessing ease of use, understanding, and burden.

Main Results:

• Focus groups indicated a need for user connectivity features within web-based interventions.
• Usability testing yielded high scores for web-SUCCEED, with participants finding it easy to understand and use.
• Veterans expressed strong willingness to use such programs for future health management, despite minor feedback on site confusion.

Conclusions:

• Adapting facilitated, self-management support programs for web-based delivery is feasible and effective for remote content delivery.
• Multidisciplinary stakeholder input is vital for the successful development of digital health interventions.
• Realistic budgeting and staffing are essential considerations for program adaptation and implementation.