Usability Testing of a Mobile Application for Alleviating Postpartum Emotional Disorders: A Case of We’ll

Abstract

Postpartum emotional disorders depending on the severity of symptoms can be divided into postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Those who develop severe symptoms may intend to commit suicide or harm the newborn. Therefore, these women need professional medical assistance and care services. A previous study (Kao 2017) used social support as the basis to develop a simulation trial version of a mobile application (App), We’ll, which helps women suffering from postpartum emotional disorders relieve depression via its function of interaction. The We’ll app for the present study is a trial simulation version. The official version of Android We’ll system hasn’t been evaluated its usability yet. The purpose of the study is for the usability evaluation of Android We’ll system. The researchers indicated users’ usability, satisfaction, and feedback regarding the interface and functional frameworks of the current app version. This study recruited 30 participants with the inclusion criteria of Taiwanese women aged 20 to 40 years who had experience in giving birth. Task testing comprised 12 items covering all functions provide by the app. All of the participants completed all tasks. The participants were asked to perform thinking aloud during the task testing period. On the basis of the feedback to the thinking aloud process during the test, interface operation issues were categorized into three types of errors, namely, navigation error, presentation error, and control error by the nature of errors and severity regarding how the errors influenced task completion. The overall average score of the SUS was 70.5, higher than the designated standard average of the SUS. Therefore, the satisfaction toward We’ll met the standard level. After the aforementioned procedure, usability task testing results were organized to determine the following problems that need to be solved. (a) Redesign the house icons of friends, family, and hospital on the home page (b) Enlarge the click area of friend and family rows (c) Improve the presentation of the EDPS test results, change the histogram into numeral score feedback, and add suggestions and reminders (d) Establish a dynamic tutorial for first-time login users.