Workshops

ISRII is offering three concurrent workshops on the morning of Thursday, 16 May 2013.

  • Workshop 1: Introducing the LifeGuide: Open Source Software for Creating and Trialling Internet Interventions
  • Workshop 2: Usability and User-Centered Design for Internet Interventions
  • Workshop 3: Refining Support Models for Internet-Delivered Treatments for Depression

Workshop 1: Introducing the LifeGuide: Open Source Software for Creating and Trialling Internet Interventions

Presented by

Lucy Yardley, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK

Description

The development of digital (web-based) interventions can pose a challenge for behavioral science researchers with limited funding – such as students, junior researchers, or those wishing to carry out pilot studies before submitting a grant application. In addition, digital interventions are typically programmed by computer scientists and may be difficult or impossible to later modify without further resources for programming.

The LifeGuide is free open source software that allows researchers and health professionals with no programming skills or resources to flexibly create, modify, deliver, evaluate, and share Internet-delivered interventions. The LifeGuide software will shortly be expanded to allow researchers and health professionals to also create, modify and deliver smartphone applications. The LifeGuide software is currently being used by a growing community of over 1000 researchers and health professionals.

This workshop will introduce the LifeGuide software, present examples of the diverse range of features and components of digital interventions that can be created, explain how the LifeGuide can be used to trial and evaluate interventions, and give some tips and demos of how to get started with the more technical aspects of creating interventions and websites. The workshop will be facilitated by a team of health psychologists who will share their personal experiences of developing, modifying and evaluating a range of different interventions for a variety of health behaviors. The future of digital interventions will also be discussed, with respect to capitalizing on Smartphone technology to support behavior change. It is hoped that throughout this workshop some lively discussion on the process of developing and evaluating digital interventions will be generated.

This is an introductory workshop – no prerequisite knowledge or experience is required.

Learning Objectives

  1. The participant shall be able to appraise whether the LifeGuide will be a suitable tool to help them to develop and evaluate their own Internet-based intervention.
  2. The participant shall be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of how to use LifeGuide for developing interventions, including tailoring intervention content.
  3. The participant shall be able to describe how LifeGuide can be used to trial an intervention, including automated randomization and follow-up and monitoring of website usage.

Workshop 2: Usability and User-Centered Design for Internet Interventions

Presented by

Enid Montague, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Description

This workshop will introduce attendees to the field of usability engineering and user-centered design (UCD). Attendees will learn about the fundamentals of user-centered design and usability evaluation that have been used to develop and test consumer products and technologies that can be applied to Internet interventions. Participants will learn about key user-centered design, usability and accessibility standards related to designing products, technologies or web interventions. Participants will learn about the key personnel that are needed to evaluate user needs and usability in a variety of contexts (e.g. home, work, mobile, clinical environments), and for a variety of user characteristics (e.g. cognitive capabilities, culture, age, and clinical need). Finally, participants will learn techniques for incorporating user-centered design and usability testing into stages of the product development process; ranging from idea generation, identifying end users, developing product concepts, testing products, implementation, and promoting adoption. Case studies of UCD concepts and methods will be presented and participants will have opportunities to try user-centered design activities and usability testing techniques in interactive sessions.

Learning Objectives

  1. Participants shall be able to understand core terminology related to usability.
  2. Participants shall learn the key components of the user-centered design process as outlined in ISO/DIS 9241-210:2008.
  3. Participants shall have hands on opportunities to try usability testing techniques.

Workshop 3: Refining Support Models for Internet-Delivered Treatments for Depression

Presented by

Ann McCreath, Five Areas Ltd, Scotland, UK

Description

There is a significant mismatch between the promise that cCBT approaches offer, and the actual often disappointing uptake and outcome results in everyday practice outside carefully managed clinical trials.

This workshop draws on over 15 years of experience in introducing, supporting and helping people use a range of web and book based CBT self-help resources. With resources used in national projects in England (NHS Direct), Scotland (NHS Living Life) and Canada (Bounceback BC), the presenters have a wealth of practical knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work in a variety of settings. The workshop uses a practical and empowering implementation model:

  • Making it essential
  • Making it happen
  • Making it stick

Content includes slides, case-based discussion, non-embarrassing role play all in an inquisitive, gentle and informative setting. The workshop will suit individual practitioners, developers and also commissioners of services wanting to discover more about how to introduce cCBT into services in ways that complement and don’t undermine existing services.

Learning Objectives

  1. Participants shall be able to describe the key elements of telephone support for cCBT.
  2. Participants shall understand and problem solve ways of helping people tackle the three most common roadblocks to using cCBT.