A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities
Growing evidence demonstrates that people with disabilities face more challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness resources, compared to non-disabled populations. As mobile applications focused on health and wellness (mHealth apps) become prevalent, it is important that people with disabilities...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
|
Series: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/7/3669 |
id |
doaj-2a7a61cedde54094907aaaa7dad80f82 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-2a7a61cedde54094907aaaa7dad80f822021-04-01T23:04:20ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-04-01183669366910.3390/ijerph18073669A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with DisabilitiesErin Radcliffe0Ben Lippincott1Raeda Anderson2Mike Jones3Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USAShepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USAShepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USAShepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USAGrowing evidence demonstrates that people with disabilities face more challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness resources, compared to non-disabled populations. As mobile applications focused on health and wellness (mHealth apps) become prevalent, it is important that people with disabilities can access and use mHealth apps. At present, there is no source of unified information about the accessibility and usability of mHealth apps for people with disabilities. We set out to create such a source, establishing a systematic approach for evaluating app accessibility. Our goal was to develop a simple, replicable app evaluation process to generate useful information for people with disabilities (to aid suitable app selection) and app developers (to improve app accessibility and usability). We collected data using two existing assessment instruments to test three top-rated weight management apps with nine users representing three disability groups: vision, dexterity, and cognitive impairment. Participants with visual impairments reported the lowest accessibility ratings, most challenges, and least tolerance for issues. Participants with dexterity impairments experienced significant accessibility-related difficulties. Participants with cognitive impairments experienced mild difficulties and higher tolerances for issues. Our pilot protocol will be applied to test mHealth apps and populate a “curation” website to assist consumers in selecting mHealth apps.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/7/3669mHealthmobile applicationsaccessibilityusabilityevaluation methodsuser needs discovery |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Erin Radcliffe Ben Lippincott Raeda Anderson Mike Jones |
spellingShingle |
Erin Radcliffe Ben Lippincott Raeda Anderson Mike Jones A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health mHealth mobile applications accessibility usability evaluation methods user needs discovery |
author_facet |
Erin Radcliffe Ben Lippincott Raeda Anderson Mike Jones |
author_sort |
Erin Radcliffe |
title |
A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities |
title_short |
A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities |
title_full |
A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities |
title_fullStr |
A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Pilot Evaluation of Mhealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities |
title_sort |
pilot evaluation of mhealth app accessibility for three top-rated weight management apps by people with disabilities |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Growing evidence demonstrates that people with disabilities face more challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness resources, compared to non-disabled populations. As mobile applications focused on health and wellness (mHealth apps) become prevalent, it is important that people with disabilities can access and use mHealth apps. At present, there is no source of unified information about the accessibility and usability of mHealth apps for people with disabilities. We set out to create such a source, establishing a systematic approach for evaluating app accessibility. Our goal was to develop a simple, replicable app evaluation process to generate useful information for people with disabilities (to aid suitable app selection) and app developers (to improve app accessibility and usability). We collected data using two existing assessment instruments to test three top-rated weight management apps with nine users representing three disability groups: vision, dexterity, and cognitive impairment. Participants with visual impairments reported the lowest accessibility ratings, most challenges, and least tolerance for issues. Participants with dexterity impairments experienced significant accessibility-related difficulties. Participants with cognitive impairments experienced mild difficulties and higher tolerances for issues. Our pilot protocol will be applied to test mHealth apps and populate a “curation” website to assist consumers in selecting mHealth apps. |
topic |
mHealth mobile applications accessibility usability evaluation methods user needs discovery |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/7/3669 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT erinradcliffe apilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT benlippincott apilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT raedaanderson apilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT mikejones apilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT erinradcliffe pilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT benlippincott pilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT raedaanderson pilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities AT mikejones pilotevaluationofmhealthappaccessibilityforthreetopratedweightmanagementappsbypeoplewithdisabilities |
_version_ |
1724175641813712896 |