| Summary: | Background
The usability of a technology is a key factor in its successful adoption. Smartphone applications present particular challenges because of small screens and keyboards and the wide range of settings in which they are used. This presentation will describe a usability study of the Drink Less application designed to help users reduce their alcohol consumption. The application contains a core module focusing on goal setting, supplemented by five additional modules that will evaluated in a subsequent RCT: self-monitoring and feedback, identity change, cognitive bias re-training, action planning, and social comparison.
Aims
To gain a detailed understanding of usability of the Drink Less application in terms of the extent and manner of user engagement with the core module and each of the additional modules, the features of the application they like and dislike, the extent to which they feel that different features of the app are easy or difficult to use, and how far the app meets their needs.
Methods
Two studies were conducted: a think aloud study and a semi-structured interview study. Each involved 12 participants wanting to reduce their consumption of alcohol. Half the participants in each study had no post-16 educational qualifications or were unemployed or employed in a routine/manual occupation. The think aloud study involved use of the app over a single session. The semi-structured interview study canvassed experiences of using the app over a two week period. Transcribed responses and interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The emerging themes and sub-themes were assessed independently by two coders and a thematic map was developed in an iterative process that involved reviewing the coded extracts and adding, refining, merging or deleting themes and sub-themes in order to capture the essence of the data.
Results
Data analysis is in its final stage and will be available by the time of the presentation.
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