User-centered development of an mHealth app for cardiovascular prevention

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Cardiovascular disease prevention
• Mobile health applications

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer a promising avenue for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.
• User-centered design, evidence-based content, and rigorous user testing are crucial for ensuring app usability and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate HerzFit, a novel mHealth application designed for CVD prevention.
• To assess the usability and user experience of the HerzFit prototype.

Main Methods:

• Employed a user-centered design methodology to define target user requirements and create four distinct personas.
• Developed guideline-based content focusing on CVD risk assessment, monitoring, and optimization, incorporating evidence-based information.
• Conducted beta testing and preliminary usability evaluations using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the German mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (GER-MAUQ), alongside free-text feedback.

Main Results:

• The HerzFit app allows users to individually assess, monitor, and optimize their cardiovascular risk profile with evidence-based information.
• Beta-testers rated the prototype's usability as slightly above average on both SUS and GER-MAUQ scales.
• Positive feedback highlighted the app's diverse functionalities and information; negative feedback primarily concerned wearable synchronization issues.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrates the user-centered development of a guideline-based mHealth app for CVD prevention.
• Beta-testing and usability studies were instrumental in refining the HerzFit app prior to its official launch.
• The HerzFit app is poised to enhance CVD prevention strategies through accessible digital tools.