Journal article
Perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone application for the treatment of binge eating disorders: Qualitative feedback from a user population and clinicians
International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland), v 84(10), pp 808-816
Oct 2015
PMID: 26113461
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Binge eating, a major public health problem, is characterized by recurrent episodes of out-of-control eating in which an individual consumes an unusually large amount of food in a discrete time period. Limitations of existing treatments for binge eating (both in-person psychotherapy and guided self-help) indicate that smartphone applications (apps) may be an ideal alternative or enhancement. An app for binge eating could aid treatment dissemination, engagement, and/or compliance. However, no research to date has examined user perceptions of a therapeutic app for binge eating, which is critical for development.
The purposes of the current study were to conceptualize a potential app for binge eating and obtain feedback regarding feasibility and acceptability from target users (i.e., individuals with binge eating) and clinicians specializing in the treatment of binge eating.
Our team conceptualized a smartphone app that contained self-help material, functions to monitor behavior, and provisions of in-the-moment interventions. We presented this app (e.g., feature explanations, mock screen shots) through phone interviews with clinicians who specialize in the treatment of binge eating (n=10), and focus groups with individuals experiencing binge eating (n=11). Participants were asked to discuss customization, user burden, terminology, attrition, data visualization, comprehensiveness, reminders, feasibility, acceptability, and perceived effectiveness of the proposed app. Thematic analyses were conducted from qualitative data (e.g., audio recordings and interview notes) obtained via the focus groups and interviews.
Results indicated that our proposed app would be highly feasible and acceptable to users and clinicians, though concerns about the degree of personalization and customizability were noted.
The current study details highly specific feedback and ideas regarding essential app features from target users and clinicians. This information is critical for the development of future apps to treat binge eating. Ways in which data obtained from the current study may be generalized to the development of therapeutic apps for other psychological disorders is discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone application for the treatment of binge eating disorders: Qualitative feedback from a user population and clinicians
- Creators
- Adrienne S Juarascio - Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: asj32@drexel.eduStephanie P Goldstein - Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: spg38@drexel.eduStephanie M Manasse - Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: smm522@drexel.eduEvan M Forman - Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: emf27@drexel.eduMeghan L Butryn - Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: mlb34@drexel.edu
- Publication Details
- International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland), v 84(10), pp 808-816
- Publisher
- Elsevier; Ireland
- Grant note
- K23 MH105680 / NIMH NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL) [Historical]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000360562100010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84940899311
- Other Identifier
- 991014877887304721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Computer Science, Information Systems
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Medical Informatics