title: Designing websites for persons with cognitive deficits: Design and usability of a psychoeducational intervention for persons with severe mental illness.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the design elements that influence the ability of persons with severe mental illness (SMI) and cognitive deficits to use a website, and to use this knowledge to design a web-based telehealth application to deliver a psychoeducation program to persons with schizophrenia and their families. Usability testing was conducted with 98 persons with SMI. First, individual website design elements were tested. Based on these results, theoretical website design models were used to create several alternative websites. These designs were tested for their ability to facilitate use by persons with SMI. The final website design is presented. The results indicate that commonly prescribed design models and guidelines produce websites that are poorly suited and confusing to persons with SMI. Our findings suggest an alternative model that should be considered when designing websites and other telehealth interventions for this population. Implications for future studies addressing the characteristics of accessible designs for persons with SMI and cognitive deficits are discussed.
authors: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Armando J
authors: AJ
authors: Rotondi
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Sinkule
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Gretchen L
authors: GL
authors: Haas
authors: Department of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Spring
authors: Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Christine M
authors: CM
authors: Litschge
authors: Department of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Christina E
authors: CE
authors: Newhill
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Rohan
authors: R
authors: Ganguli
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Department of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh.
authors: Carol M
authors: CM
authors: Anderson
keywords: accessibility; cognitive deficits; severe mental illness; telehealth; website