Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 30, 2021
Date Accepted: Nov 5, 2021
Life Goals self-management mobile application for bipolar disorder: consumer feasibility, usability, and acceptability
ABSTRACT
Background:
Life Goals is an evidence-based self-management intervention that assist individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) by aligning BD symptom coping strategies with their personal goals. It is available for in-person and telephone sessions, and has been recently developed as an individualized, customizable mobile application (app).
Objective:
We examined the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the Life Goals self-management app among individuals diagnosed with BD who used the app for up to six months.
Methods:
Twenty-eight participants with BD used the Life Goals app on their personal smartphone for six months. They completed key clinical outcome measurements of functioning, disability, and psychiatric symptoms at baseline, three-, and six-months and a post-study survey about usability and satisfaction.
Results:
Participants used the app a median of 25 times (interquartile range [IQR]: 13, 65.75), and for greater minutes during the first three months of the study. Depression and Anxiety modules were the most frequently used, accounting for 35% and 22% of usage respectively. Overall participants found the app useful (60%), easy to use (72%), and the screen displayed material adequately (88%), but under half found the app helpful in managing their health (40%) or in making progress on their wellness goals (36%). Clinical outcomes showed a trend for improvements in mental and physical health and mania-related well-being.
Conclusions:
The Life Goals app showed feasibility of use among individuals with bipolar disorder. There was greater user engagement in the initial three months with user interests most frequently with the mood modules compared to other wellness modules. Participants showed acceptability with ease of use and satisfaction with user interface but showed less success in encouraging self-management in this small sample. The Life Goals app is a mHealth technology that can allow those with serious mental illness more flexible access to evidence-based treatments.
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