JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological condition with no permanent cure. Continual self-management is important to mitigate seizure frequency and optimize quality of life in Hispanics who have greater disparities in accessing epilepsy care and epilepsy self-management (ESM) training. The bilingual Management Information & Decision Support Epilepsy Tool (MINDSET) was developed to enhance accessibility to ESM assessment and treatment.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to assess the usability of MINDSET 2.0, an enhanced cross-platform online version of MINDSET, among a sample of Hispanic patients within neurology clinic settings.

Methods:

MINDSET 2.0 was recently developed to address the need for more updated and robust program architecture, easier user accessibility, and the capability to assess quality of life, cognitive function, and social determinants of health. An exploratory mixed methods design, combining usability rating scales with structured interviews, was used to assess MINDSET 2.0 usability in January 2022. Six Hispanic PWE in Texas (n=4) and Arizona (n=2) participated in individual online sessions in which they completed a socio-demographic survey, accessed all components of MINDSET, and then completed a usability survey and exit interview.

Results:

Patients reported low adherence to ESM behaviors in each of the management domains. Over 80% of patients agreed that MINDSET 2.0 was acceptable, easy to use, likeable, credible, of appropriate duration, and motivationally appealing. Patients agreed that the program helped them think about and manage their epilepsy more carefully, and that it improved decision-making between them and their health care providers (100%). Patients provided lower ratings (≤50%) and reported the greatest number of difficulties with their understanding of how to select goals and strategies, and develop an Action Plan. Research team review determined that not all MINDSET 2.0 algorithms were functioning according to design specifications leading to statements being generated on the Action Plans that did not accurately reflect patients’ situations.

Conclusions:

The results replicated usability findings from earlier versions of MINDSET but also highlighted necessary enhancements needed to mitigate problems of incorrect coding in algorithms, item response formatting, and functionality enhancements before feasibility testing in the clinic setting.