Participatory Design of an Online Self-Management Tool for Users With Spinal Cord Injury: Qualitative Study

• DOI: 10.2196/rehab.8158
• Publication Date: 2018-03-21T10:15:14Z
• Authors: Sonya Allin; John Shepherd; Jennifer Tomasone; Sarah Munce; Gary Linassi; Saima Noreen Hossain; Susan Jaglal
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis; Participatory Design; Self-Management

Rehospitalization rates resulting from secondary conditions in persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are high. Self-management programs for many chronic have been associated decreases hospital readmissions. However, the SCI community, evidence suggests that satisfaction traditional self-management is low. Users indicated preference online (rather than in-person), target SCI-specific concerns, and led by peers SCI. There currently no program all of these features, which addresses after SCI.The aim this study was to provide details a participatory design (PD) process an internet-mediated users (called & U) illustrate how it has used define constraints solutions.Users were involved development as codesigners, codevelopers, key informants. Codesigners codevelopers recruited consumer advocacy groups worked core team. Key informants geographically distributed form product advisory council met regularly During meetings, codesigners walked through stages work typify PD processes such exploration, discovery, prototyping. This paper analyzing 10 meetings took place between August 2015 May 2016. Meetings recorded, transcribed, subjected inductive thematic analysis; themes organized according their relationship stages.A total 16 individuals participated meeting discussions, including 7 researchers 9 4 Canadian provinces. Themes trust, expertise, community emerged every group discussion. The exploration stage revealed interest resources coupled concerns about information credibility. In general, participants they felt more confident received trusted, in-person sources (eg, or health care professionals) found online. discovery saw propose discuss concepts filter credible highlight namely (1) community-curated resource database, (2) navigators, (3) chats peers. Several tools techniques collectively prototyped effort foster trust community; illustrated Results section.A engaging can be identify prototype solutions promote Future will assess usability designed among broad population Canadians tools' impact on self-efficacy health.