A Web-Based Interactive Tool to Reduce Childhood Obesity Risk in Urban Minority Youth: Usability Testing Study (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.9747
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02T12:39:27Z
• Authors: Sandra Verdaguer; Katrina F Mateo; Katarzyna Wyka; Tracy A Dennis-Ti...; May May Leung
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Childhood obesity is a serious public health issue among minority youth in the United States. Technology-enhanced approaches can be effective for promoting healthy behavior change. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The purpose of this study was to test usability prototypes Web-based interactive tool dietary behaviors reduce childhood risk urban youth. comprised manga-style comic with features (eg, sound effects, clickable pop-ups), tailored messaging, and goal setting, optimized use on tablet devices. <title>METHODS</title> Latino black/African American children ages 9 13 years were recruited participate two rounds testing. A modified think-aloud method utilized. Self-reported surveys field notes collected. Audio recordings from testing sessions systematically reviewed by extracting coding user feedback as either positive comments or negative issues. quantitative data self-reported questionnaires analyzed using descriptive statistics. <title>RESULTS</title> Twelve (four female; eight American) mean age 10.92 (SD 1.16) participated. Testing highlighted overall experiences tool, especially related storyline, color schemes. Specific issues classified into six themes: appearance, content, special terminology, navigation. Changes after round 1 included adding navigation guide, making icons more visible, improving graphic designs, fixing programming errors. In 2 (after modifications incorporated), many that identified did not emerge. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Results will inform further development finalization which tested two-group pilot randomized study, reducing minority, low-income