TY  - JOUR
AU  - Yu, Daihua
AU  - Parmanto, Bambang
AU  - Dicianno, Brad
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/01/08
TI  - An mHealth App for Users with Dexterity Impairments: Accessibility Study
JO  - JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
SP  - e202
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
KW  - accessibility
KW  - dexterity impairments
KW  - disability
KW  - mHealth
KW  - self-management
KW  - smartphone apps
KW  - spina bifida
KW  - spinal cord injury
KW  - wellness
KW  - mobile phone
AB  - Background: A mobile health (mHealth) system called iMHere (interactive mobile health and rehabilitation) was developed to support individuals with chronic conditions and disability in their self-management regimens. The initial design of iMHere, however, lacked sufficient accessibility for users with a myriad of dexterity impairments. The accessibility of self-management apps is essential in ensuring usability. Objective: This study aims to increase the usability of the iMHere system for users with dexterity impairments by increasing the app’s accessibility. Methods: We targeted the accessibility redesign by focusing on the physical presentation and the navigability of the iMHere apps. Six participants presenting with dexterity impairments were included in the usability study of the original and redesigned apps. Results: We observed a lower number of touches needed to complete tasks (P=.09) and time to complete individual tasks (P=.06) with the redesigned app than with the original app; a significantly lower time for users to complete all tasks (P=.006); and a significantly lower error rate (P=.01) with the redesigned app than with the original app. In fact, no errors occurred with use of the redesigned app. Participant-reported overall average usability of the redesigned app (P=.007) and usability of individual modules (P<.001) were significantly higher than that of the original app due mostly to better ease of use and learnability, interface quality, and reliability. Conclusions: Improved usability was achieved using a redesigned app. This study offers insight into the importance of personalization in enhancing the accessibility and also identifies strategies for improving usability in app development. 
SN  - 2291-5222
UR  - https://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/1/e202/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9931
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30622096
DO  - 10.2196/mhealth.9931
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/mhealth.9931
ER  -