Avani C Modi1, Anup D Patel2, Ana M Gutierrez-Colina3, Sara E Wetter3, Leah M Heckaman3, Andrea Debs4, Constance A Mara5, Evelynne Wentzel4, Matthew Schmidt6, Jack Stevens2. 1. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, USA. Electronic address: avani.modi@cchmc.org. 2. Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Near East Office Building, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; The Ohio State, Department of Pediatrics, 700 Children's Drive, Near East Office Building, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. 3. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. 4. Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Near East Office Building, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. 5. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, USA. 6. College of Education, University of Florida, 2423 Normal Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Adherence is suboptimal in adolescents with epilepsy. Social norms comparison (i.e., feedback about someone else's behavior related to one's own behavior) strategies may be beneficial in improving medication adherence. Using a novel model of behavioral intervention development, the aim of the current study was to create a social norms intervention for adolescents with epilepsy via focus groups and usability studies. METHODS: A focus group, individual interviews, short-term usability, and extended usage testing studies were conducted. Across all study phases, content and images of intervention components were displayed to participants as mock-ups in PowerPoint slide decks. After each phase, updated iterations were shown to participants to refine the intervention. Several questionnaires were completed by adolescents and caregivers to characterize the samples. RESULTS: Twelve adolescents participated in the focus group/individual interviews and usability studies. The final Behavioral Economic Adherence for Teens (BEAT) intervention consists of a text messaging system and a graphical user interface. General feedback indicated the need for simplicity and ease of use regarding obtaining the graphical messages (e.g., no extra login and passwords); engaging visual images; and weekly comparisons of a target patient's medication adherence to other adolescents' performance. The average system usability system (SUS) rating was 88.3 + 3.8. CONCLUSIONS: Our final intervention had high usability ratings and was perceived as engaging and easy to understand. An important next step is to test the BEAT intervention in a Phase 2 randomized trial.
INTRODUCTION: Adherence is suboptimal in adolescents with epilepsy. Social norms comparison (i.e., feedback about someone else's behavior related to one's own behavior) strategies may be beneficial in improving medication adherence. Using a novel model of behavioral intervention development, the aim of the current study was to create a social norms intervention for adolescents with epilepsy via focus groups and usability studies. METHODS: A focus group, individual interviews, short-term usability, and extended usage testing studies were conducted. Across all study phases, content and images of intervention components were displayed to participants as mock-ups in PowerPoint slide decks. After each phase, updated iterations were shown to participants to refine the intervention. Several questionnaires were completed by adolescents and caregivers to characterize the samples. RESULTS: Twelve adolescents participated in the focus group/individual interviews and usability studies. The final Behavioral Economic Adherence for Teens (BEAT) intervention consists of a text messaging system and a graphical user interface. General feedback indicated the need for simplicity and ease of use regarding obtaining the graphical messages (e.g., no extra login and passwords); engaging visual images; and weekly comparisons of a target patient's medication adherence to other adolescents' performance. The average system usability system (SUS) rating was 88.3 + 3.8. CONCLUSIONS: Our final intervention had high usability ratings and was perceived as engaging and easy to understand. An important next step is to test the BEAT intervention in a Phase 2 randomized trial.
Authors: R Edward Faught; Jennifer R Weiner; Annie Guérin; Marianne C Cunnington; Mei Sheng Duh Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2008-10-03 Impact factor: 5.864