User testing to modify the MyHealthyGut digital health application for inflammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Digital health Vol. 9; p. 20552076231203664
• Main Authors: Erlich, Madeline, Lindblad, Sarah, Haskey, Natasha, Clarkin, Darlene Higbee, Dong, Taojie, Harvie, Ruth, Lunken, Genelle, Pirnack, Jess, Jacobson, Kevan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-01-2023; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Feedback; Focus groups; Inflammatory bowel disease; Patients; Qualitative Study; digital health; gastroenterology; self monitoring; eHealth; apps
• ISSN: 2055-2076; 2055-2076
• DOI: 10.1177/20552076231203664

Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation, can be subcategorized into Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The treatment for these conditions is unique to each patient and may include lifestyle changes, pharmaceutical intervention, and surgery. Lifestyle changes, such as dietary intervention, are a cornerstone of inflammatory bowel disease symptom management. Given the daily burden of this disease, self-management is paramount in coping with and/or minimizing symptoms. The MyHealthyGut application, successfully proven to be a self-management tool for celiac disease, shows promise for use in an inflammatory bowel disease patient population.
Objective
To conduct user testing to gather valuable insights for the development of an IBD-focused version of the existing MyHealthyGut app.
Methods
Participants included inflammatory bowel disease patients and healthcare practitioners. Participants used the application for a 2-week period, followed by participation in a focus group or individual interview to provide feedback. Qualitative questionnaires were administered verbally and feedback was recorded. Thematic analysis techniques were used for data quantification and analysis.
Results
15 participants were recruited and enrolled. Of these, 14 participants took part in the focus group and/or individual interviews. The feedback suggested changes related to clinical uses, food and symptom tracking, ease of use, and educational content. All (100%) participants reported that they would either use the application themselves or recommend it to patients, once their suggestions were implemented.
Conclusion
Through user testing and feedback collection, priorities for app modification were identified. Areas for modification in the app functions and features, ease of use, and content were identified. Once updated to meet the needs of inflammatory bowel disease patients, the MyHealthyGut app may be a useful tool for IBD self-management.