Abstract
This article describes the development of the See Me Smoke-Free™ (SMSF) mobile health application, which uses guided imagery to support women in smoking cessation, eating a healthy diet, and increasing physical activity. Focus group discussions, with member checks, were conducted to refine the intervention content and app user interface. Data related to the context of app deployment were collected via user testing sessions and internal quality control testing, which identified and addressed functionality issues, content problems, and bugs. Interactive app features include playback of guided imagery audio files, notification pop-ups, award-sharing on social media, a tracking calendar, content resources, and direct call to the local tobacco quitline. Focus groups helped design the user interface and identified several themes for incorporation into app content, including positivity, the rewards of smoking cessation, and the integrated benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. User testing improved app functionality and usability on many Android phone models. Changes to the app content and function were made iteratively by the development team as a result of focus group and user testing. Despite extensive internal and user testing, unanticipated data collection and reporting issues emerged during deployment due not only to the variety of Android software and hardware but also to individual phone settings and use.
Acknowledgments
Our thanks to the student app developers, including Achyuth Chakravarthy, Archana Ganesan, Janampradeep Vyas, Xudong Weng, Kavinfranco Devadhas, and Yufeng Mao. Our thanks to Perlana Howard for her work on app development and participant management.
Funding
This work was funded by the National Cancer Institute Grant Number R21CA174539 (PI: Judith Gordon).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Julie Armin
JG, PG, MH, and TJ provided leadership for the project; JA, JG, PG, MH, and TJ contributed to data analysis and interpretation of the results; JA drafted the manuscript; all authors contributed expertise and edits.
Thienne Johnson
JG, PG, MH, and TJ provided leadership for the project; JA, JG, PG, MH, and TJ contributed to data analysis and interpretation of the results; JA drafted the manuscript; all authors contributed expertise and edits.
Melanie Hingle
JG, PG, MH, and TJ provided leadership for the project; JA, JG, PG, MH, and TJ contributed to data analysis and interpretation of the results; JA drafted the manuscript; all authors contributed expertise and edits.
Peter Giacobbi
JG, PG, MH, and TJ provided leadership for the project; JA, JG, PG, MH, and TJ contributed to data analysis and interpretation of the results; JA drafted the manuscript; all authors contributed expertise and edits.
Judith S. Gordon
JG, PG, MH, and TJ provided leadership for the project; JA, JG, PG, MH, and TJ contributed to data analysis and interpretation of the results; JA drafted the manuscript; all authors contributed expertise and edits.