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. 2022 Jul 18:8:20552076221110537.
doi: 10.1177/20552076221110537. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Sign of the times: Community engagement to refine a cardiovascular mHealth intervention through a virtual focus group series during the COVID-19 Pandemic

LaPrincess C Brewer  1   2 , Jissy Cyriac  3 , Ashok Kumbamu  4 , Lora E Burke  5 , Sarah Jenkins  6 , Sharonne N Hayes  1 , Clarence Jones  7 , Lisa A Cooper  8 , Christi A Patten  2   9
Affiliations

Sign of the times: Community engagement to refine a cardiovascular mHealth intervention through a virtual focus group series during the COVID-19 Pandemic

LaPrincess C Brewer et al. Digit Health. .

Abstract

Background: African-Americans are underrepresented in mobile health intervention research studies which can perpetuate health inequities and the digital divide. A community-based, user-centered approach to designing mobile health interventions may increase their sociocultural relevance and effectiveness, especially with increased smartphone use during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We aimed to refine an existing mobile health intervention via a virtual focus group series.

Methods: African-American community members (n = 15) from churches in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Rochester, Minnesota were enrolled in a virtual (via videoconferencing), three-session focus group series over five months to refine a cardiovascular health-focused mobile health application (FAITH! [Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health!] App). Participants accessed the app via their smartphones and received a Fitbit synced to the app. Participants engaged with multimedia cardiovascular health-focused education modules, a sharing board for social networking, and diet/physical activity self-monitoring. Participant feedback on app features prompted iterative revisions to the FAITH! App. Primary outcomes were app usability (assessed via Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale range: 0-5) and user satisfaction.

Results: Participants (mean age [SD]: 56.9 [12.3] years, 86.7% female) attended a mean 2.8 focus groups (80% attended all sessions). The revised FAITH! App exceeded the goal Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale score threshold of ≥4 (mean: 4.39, range: 3.20-4.95). Participants positively rated updated app content, visual appeal, and use of social incentives to maintain engagement. Increasing user control and refinement of the moderated sharing board were identified as areas for future improvement.

Conclusions: Community-partnered, virtual focus groups can optimize usability and increase participant satisfaction of mobile health lifestyle interventions that aim to promote cardiovascular health in African-Americans.

Keywords: African-Americans; Mobile health lifestyle intervention; cardiovascular health; community–academic partnership; user-centered design.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health! (FAITH!) Trial overview: Exploratory sequential/participatory mixed-methods design.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Visual summary of virtual focus group series. Prior to start of the current study, data collected from an in-person focus group was used to complete preliminary revisions of the FAITH! App. Focus groups were transitioned to a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consisted of three virtual sessions. The shaded panel highlights features of the virtual focus group series. Focus group 1 oriented participants to the FAITH! App, after which participants used the FAITH! App for 2 weeks prior to focus group 2. Using feedback from focus group 2, additional refinements were made to FAITH! App and were reviewed during focus group 3. Participants completed electronic surveys rating app usability and satisfaction at the end of the focus group series.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Screenshot of fitness video.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health! (FAITH!) App homepage education modules icons. (A) Preliminary prototype layout. (B) Refined layout.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Example post from the participant on sharing board.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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