137 Usability testing of a non-motor symptom app in PD. Issue 12 (14th November 2019) - Dominey, Thea
Abstract : Background: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are a significant cause of morbidity in Parkinson's, with major impact on quality of life. There is an urgent need to empower people with Parkinson's (PwP) to self-manage NMS, and facilitate timely intervention. A mobile application (NMS Assist) was developed, which enables regular assessment of NMS and provides self-help information in the form of animations. Aim: To evaluate key areas for NMS Assist design improvement. Method: PwP and carers were recruited from local Parkinson's UK groups. NMS Assist user journeys were designed and carried out, filmed with 'Mr Tappy', using 'think aloud' methodology. Satisfaction was evaluated by the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results: 13 Participants were recruited (PwP, n=9 and carers, n=4) with varying age, cognition, disease severity and smartphone experience. Amendment need was identified in three key areas: navigation, content and accessibility. There was no difference in SUS ratings between experienced and never smartphone users. However, the experienced group had a significantly higher error free task completion rate than never users (p=.01). Conclusions: Refinements to NMS Assist design have been identified and implemented to improve its usability. The effectiveness of these interventions will be tested in future rounds of usability testing, leading to in-service evaluation.