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Background <p>Persistent physical symptoms (PPS) (i.e., symptoms that cannot be explained by conventional diagnoses) are common in young people. PPS are associated with impairments in daily life activities, mental health problems and low quality of life. In some cases, PSS may develop into functional somatic disorders. This study aimed (i) to redesign the content of a web-based self-help intervention for adults with PPS (My Symptoms, part of the eASY research program) to create a version tailored for adolescents aged 15–20 years (My Symptoms, Young) and (ii) to evaluate and improve the program’s usability and user experience. The program’s content was redesigned by an interdisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians. Its usability and user experiences were subsequently evaluated through a combination of methods, including expert review, think-aloud sessions with 10 young users, and heuristic evaluations.</p> Results <p>Following the redesign, the program’s strengths were identified as its provision of practical and applicable support, integration of gamification elements, and a low barrier to entry. However, usability issues related to navigation and functionality were identified and corrected where feasible. Challenges in translating face-to-face therapeutic concepts into digital entities were identified, indicating areas where content required further improvement or addition. The think-aloud sessions revealed that the youngest participants experienced the most difficulty understanding certain parts of the content. Also, delivering content primarily via desktop was deemed less suitable for young people who appeared to prefer accessing content on mobile phones through a native app. Additionally, the term “archiving exercises” was poorly understood by the young user group suggesting a need for clearer terminology.</p> Conclusions <p>Combining heuristic assessment with expert and potential end-user evaluations substantially enhanced the design and functionality of the new self-help program, My Symptoms Young, targeting young people with PPS. However, to enhance program engagement, further refinement is necessary to improve the program’s accessibility on mobile devices.</p>

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Development and usability testing of ‘my symptoms young’: a web-based self-help program for persistent physical symptoms in adolescents (part of the eASY research programme)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月10日

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  • Oliver Rønn Christensen,
  • Lisbeth Frostholm,
  • Mette Trøllund Rask,
  • Marianne Rosendal,
  • Charlotte Ulrikka Rask

摘要

Background

Persistent physical symptoms (PPS) (i.e., symptoms that cannot be explained by conventional diagnoses) are common in young people. PPS are associated with impairments in daily life activities, mental health problems and low quality of life. In some cases, PSS may develop into functional somatic disorders. This study aimed (i) to redesign the content of a web-based self-help intervention for adults with PPS (My Symptoms, part of the eASY research program) to create a version tailored for adolescents aged 15–20 years (My Symptoms, Young) and (ii) to evaluate and improve the program’s usability and user experience. The program’s content was redesigned by an interdisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians. Its usability and user experiences were subsequently evaluated through a combination of methods, including expert review, think-aloud sessions with 10 young users, and heuristic evaluations.

Results

Following the redesign, the program’s strengths were identified as its provision of practical and applicable support, integration of gamification elements, and a low barrier to entry. However, usability issues related to navigation and functionality were identified and corrected where feasible. Challenges in translating face-to-face therapeutic concepts into digital entities were identified, indicating areas where content required further improvement or addition. The think-aloud sessions revealed that the youngest participants experienced the most difficulty understanding certain parts of the content. Also, delivering content primarily via desktop was deemed less suitable for young people who appeared to prefer accessing content on mobile phones through a native app. Additionally, the term “archiving exercises” was poorly understood by the young user group suggesting a need for clearer terminology.

Conclusions

Combining heuristic assessment with expert and potential end-user evaluations substantially enhanced the design and functionality of the new self-help program, My Symptoms Young, targeting young people with PPS. However, to enhance program engagement, further refinement is necessary to improve the program’s accessibility on mobile devices.