Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Mar 26, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Mar 29, 2019 - Apr 12, 2019
Date Accepted: Nov 25, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
A randomized heuristic comparison of engagement and usability of a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) mobile app compared to a web-based CBT among college students
ABSTRACT
Background:
Recent evidence in mHealth has demonstrated that, in some cases, apps are an effective way to improve healthcare delivery. Healthcare interventions which are delivered via mobile technology are both effective and affordable. Lately, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) interventions delivered over the internet has also demonstrated a meaningful impact on patients with anxiety and depression.
Objective:
Given the growing proliferation of smartphones and trust in apps to support improved health behaviors and outcomes, we were interested in comparing a mobile app versus web-based methods for delivery of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Our study compares the usability of a CBT mobile app called MoodTrainer against an evidence-based website called MoodGYM.
Methods:
We used convenience sampling to recruit thirty students from a large Midwestern University, who were randomly assigned to either a MoodGYM or MoodTrainer user group. The trial period ran for two weeks, after which we administered a survey based on Nielsen’s heuristic evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the survey results from the two groups. We also compared the number of modules attempted or completed, and the time spent on the CBT strategies.
Results:
The results indicate that the MoodTrainer app received a higher usability score when compared to MoodGYM. 86% (13) of the participants felt that it was easy to navigate through the MoodTrainer app compared to 80% (12) for the MoodGYM website. All the MoodTrainer participants agreed that the app was very easy to use and did not require any external assistance, while only 60% (10) had the same opinion for MoodGYM. 66% (10) of the MoodTrainer participants found that the navigation controls were easy to locate compared to 80% (12) of the MoodGYM participants. MoodTrainer users on an average completed 2.5 modules compared to 1 module completed by MoodGYM users.
Conclusions:
As among the first studies to directly compare the usability of a mobile app-based CBT with mobile-specific features to a web-based CBT, we see great potential for app-based CBT, as they are more usable and engaging. The study was limited to evaluate the usability only and not the clinical effectiveness of the app.
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Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.