title: Testing Usability and Acceptability of a Web Application to Promote Physical Activity (iCanFit) Among Older Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most older Americans do not exercise regularly and many have chronic conditions. Among an increasing number of fitness mobile and Web apps, few are designed for older adults with chronic conditions despite high ownership rates of mobile tools and Internet access in this population. We designed a mobile-enabled Web app, iCanFit, to promote physical activity in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to test the usability and acceptability of iCanFit among older adults in a community setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 33 older adults (aged 60 to 82 years) were recruited from communities to test iCanFit. Of these 33, 10 participants completed the usability testing in a computer room of a senior community center. A research assistant timed each Web application task and observed user navigation behavior using usability metrics. The other 23 participants used the website on their own devices at home and provided feedback after 2-3 weeks by completing a user-experience survey assessing ease of use, helpfulness, and satisfaction with iCanFit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants completed all 15 tasks on the iCanFit site in an average of 31 (SD 6.9) minutes; some tasks required more time or needed assistance. Participants' comments were addressed to improve the site's senior friendliness and ease of use. In the user-experience survey, participants reported high levels of usefulness and satisfaction. More than 56% (13/23) of participants indicated they would continue using the program and recommend it to their families or friends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testing usability and acceptability is a very important step in developing age-appropriate and user-friendly Web apps, especially for older adults. Testing usability and acceptability in a community setting can help reveal users' experiences and feedback in a real-life setting. Our study suggested that older adults had a high degree of acceptance of iCanFit and could use it easily. The efficacy trial of iCanFit is currently underway.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States. yhong@sph.tamhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1481-6495
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5691-6988
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Deborah Vollmer
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9481-9874
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Dahlke
authors.forename: Marcia G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8036-2383
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ory
authors.forename: Jessica S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3429-9501
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cargill
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9525-748X
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4483-7083
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3737-8627
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kellstedt
authors.forename: S Camille
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-9171
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Peres
keywords: mobile health, older adults; physical activity; usability testing; user experience