title: Usability Evaluation of a Mobile Monitoring System to Assess Symptoms After a Traumatic Injury: A Mixed-Methods Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Victims of trauma are at high risk for mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Regular assessment of mental health symptoms in the post-trauma period is necessary to identify those at greatest risk and provide treatment. The multiple demands of the acute post-trauma period present numerous barriers to such assessments. Mobile apps are a method by which to overcome these barriers in order to regularly assess symptoms, identify those at risk, and connect patients to needed services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study conducted a usability evaluation of a system to monitor mental health symptoms after a trauma. The system was developed to promote ease of use and facilitate quick transmission of data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 21 adults with a history of trauma completed a standardized usability test in a laboratory setting followed by a qualitative interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Usability testing indicated that the app was easy to use and that patients were able to answer several questions in less than 1 minute (mean [SD] 29.37 [7.53]; range 15-57). Qualitative analyses suggested that feedback should be included in such an app and recommendations for the type of feedback were offered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study indicate that a mobile app to monitor post-trauma mental health symptoms would be well received by victims. Personalized feedback to the user was identified as critical to promote the usability of the software.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Emotion, Stress, and Technology, Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States. matthew.price@uvm.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5637-9230
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5955-4778
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Madison
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8878-4767
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Christian
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0402-809X
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skalka
keywords: mobile phone; posttraumatic stress disorder; trauma; usability