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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Digit. Health
Sec. Human Factors and Digital Health
Volume 6 - 2024 |
doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1396085
The User-Centered Design and Development of a Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Electronic Health Record (EHR) Tool, a Mixed-Methods Study
Provisionally accepted- 1 University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
- 2 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Childhood and adolescent obesity are persistent public health issues in the United States. Childhood obesity Electronic Health Record (EHR) tools strengthen provider-patient relationships and improve outcomes, but there are currently limited EHR tools that are linked to adolescent mHealth apps. This study is part of a larger study entitled, CommitFit, which features both an adolescent-targeted mobile health application (mHealth app) and an ambulatory EHR tool. The CommitFit mHealth app was designed to be paired with the CommitFit EHR tool for integration into clinical spaces for shared decision-making with patients and clinicians.The objective of this sub-study was to identify the functional and design needs and preferences of healthcare clinicians and professionals for the development of the CommitFit EHR tool, specifically as it relates to childhood and adolescent obesity management.We utilized a user-centered design process with a mixed-method approach. Focus groups were used to assess current in-clinic practices, deficits, and general beliefs and preferences regarding the management of childhood and adolescent obesity. A pre-and post-focus group survey helped assess the perception of the design and functionality of the CommitFit EHR tool and other obesity clinic needs. Iterative design development of the CommitFit EHR tool occurred throughout the process.A total of 12 healthcare providers participated throughout the three focus group sessions. Two themes emerged regarding EHR design: (1) Functional Needs, including Enhancing Clinical Practices and Workflow, and (2) Visualization, including Colors and Graphs. Responses from the surveys (n = 52) further reflect the need for Functionality and User-Interface Design by clinicians. Clinicians want the CommitFit EHR tool to enhance in-clinic adolescent lifestyle counseling, be easy to use, and presentable to adolescent patients and their caregivers. Additionally, we found that clinicians preferred colors and graphs that improved readability and usability. During each step of feedback from focus group sessions and the survey, the design of the CommitFit EHR tool was updated and co-developed by clinicians in an iterative user-centered design process. More research is needed to explore clinician actual user analytics for the CommitFit EHR tool to evaluate real-time workflow, design, and function needs.
Keywords: Electronic Health Record, EHR, Graphic design, UI, user-centered design
Received: 05 Mar 2024; Accepted: 30 Aug 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 Bosworth, Ghosh, Flowers, Proffitt, Koopman, Tosh, Wilson and Braddock. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
K. Taylor Bosworth, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
Lauren Flowers, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
Richelle J. Koopman, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
Aneesh K. Tosh, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
Gwen Wilson, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
Amy S. Braddock, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
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