JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The experience of infertility and its treatment engenders considerable stress, and is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. A mobile health application (mHealth app) may be a novel solution to address the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of fertility patients due to its potential to reduce stress and increase patient empowerment. However, there are few fertility-related apps that provide information and support to both men and women undergoing fertility treatment, and none have documented their development and evaluation process.

Objective:

This study aimed to describe the development and evaluation process of a bilingual mHealth app, Infotility, designed to meet the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of men and women undergoing fertility treatment.

Methods:

To develop the Infotility app, we adhered to the Medical Research Council guidelines for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. First, we conducted literature reviews and needs assessment surveys of fertility patients and healthcare providers that informed the content and design of the app. Second, we tested the intervention with a small group of end-users who gave feedback on the design and appropriateness of the app’s content. Third, we evaluated the uptake and usability of the app using a pre/post study design. Fourth, we updated the app’s content based on the participants’ feedback and searched for partners to disseminate the app to the broader public.

Results:

This study is the first to describe the development and evaluation process of the mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment. The app met its goal in providing fertility patients with: 1) a clinician-approved, portable resource for reliable information about medical and psychosocial aspects of infertility and its treatments; and 2) a confidential peer support forum monitored by trained peer supporters.

Conclusions:

By documenting the systematic development and evaluation of the mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment, this paper can facilitate replications of the study intervention and the development of similar mHealth apps.