Testing in Translation: Conducting Usability Studies With Transnational Users

What do we mean by usability in everyday life? For us, everyday life implies the series of choices and decisions that happen each day as people are trying to get things done. These things are often taken for granted, they might seem mundane, they may be overlooked. Usability inhabits everyday life in the documents used by a Vietnamese mother of two young children, having recently moved to the United States, and navigating the healthcare system in a new country for the first time. Usability shows up again as a Chinese couple considers whether or not to move out of their father’s home in a Seattle neighborhood, but wonder how it might impact the family’s ability to afford health insurance

A hermeneutic inquiry into user-created personas in different Namibian locales

Persona is a tool broadly used in technology design to support communicational interactions between designers and users. Different Persona types and methods have evolved mostly in the Global North, and been partially deployed in the Global South every so often in its original User-Centred Design methodology. We postulate persona conceptualizations are expected to differ across cultures. We demonstrate this with an exploratory-case study on user-created persona co-designed with four Namibian ethnic groups: ovaHerero, Ovambo, ovaHimba and Khoisan. We follow a hermeneutic inquiry approach to discern cultural nuances from diverse human conducts. Findings reveal diverse self-representations whereby for each ethnic group results emerge in unalike fashions, viewpoints, recounts and storylines. This paper ultimately argues User-Created Persona as a potentially valid approach for pursuing cross-cultural depictions of personas that communicate cultural features and user experiences paramount to designing acceptable and gratifying technologies in dissimilar locales

Native IYG: Improving Psychosocial Protective Factors for HIV/STI and Teen Pregnancy Prevention among Youth in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

Background: Few HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention programs for youth in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have been rigorously evaluated despite sexual health disparities in this population. This study reports the evaluation of a culturally adapted Internet-based HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention program for AI/AN youth, Native It’s Your Game (Native IYG). Methods: A randomized study was conducted with 523 youth (12 to 14 years old), recruited from 25 tribal sites in Alaska, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. Participants were surveyed at baseline and upon completion of treatment or comparison interventions. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess impact on short term psychosocial determinants of sexual initiation. Results: A sample of 402 intervention (n=290) and comparison (n=112) youth completed the post-intervention survey (76.9% retention) from 1 to 462 days post-baseline (mean = 114, SD = ±96.67). Participants were 55.5% female, mean age of 13.0 (± 0.97) years with 86.1% self-reporting as AI/AN. Reasons not to have sex, STI knowledge, condom knowledge, condom availability self-efficacy, and condom use self-efficacy were significantly impacted (all P ≤ .01). Limitations included variability in intervention exposure and time between data collection time points. Conclusions: Native IYG demonstrated efficacy to impact short-term psychosocial determinants of sexual behavior in a sample of predominantly AI/AN middle school youth

Electronic swallowing intervention package to support swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer: development and feasibility study

Background: Many patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) experience significant swallowing difficulties, and there is some evidence that swallowing exercises may improve outcomes, including quality of life. This feasibility study developed an evidence-based, practical Swallowing Intervention Package (SiP) for patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) for HNC. As part of the study, an electronic version of SiP (e-SiP) was concurrently developed to support patients to self-manage during treatment. This paper reports on the e-SiP component of this work. Objective: To develop and conduct preliminary evaluation of an electronic support system (e-SiP) for patients undergoing CRT for head and neck cancer. Methods: The study involved health professionals and patients who were undergoing CRT for head and neck cancer. The scoping stage of e-SiP development involved investigated the potential usefulness of e-SiP, exploring how e-SiP would look and feel and what content would be appropriate to provide. Patient and carer focus groups and a health professionals’ consensus day were used as a means of data gathering around potential e-SiP content. A repeat focus group looked at an outline version of e-SIP and informed the next stage of its development around requirements for tool. This was followed by further development and a testing stage of e-SiP involved the coding of a prototype which was then evaluated using a series of steering group meetings, semi-structured interviews with both patients and health care professionals, and analysis of e-SiP log data. Results: Feedback from focus groups and health professional interviews was very positive and it was felt e-SiP use would support and encourage patients in conducting their swallowing exercises. However, of the ten patients offered e-SIP, only two opted to use it. For these patients, aspects of the e-SIP application were considered useful, in particular the ease of keeping a diary of exercises performed. Interviews with users and non-users suggested significant barriers to its use. Most significantly the lack of flexibility of platform on which e-SiP could be accessed appeared a dominant factor in deterring e-SiP use. Conclusions: Results suggest a need for further research to be conducted around the implementation of e-SiP. This involves evaluating how e-SiP can be better integrated into usual care, and through patient training and staff engagement, can be seen as a beneficial tool to help support patients in conducting swallowing exercises

Human experience in the natural and built environment : implications for research policy and practice

22nd IAPS conference. Edited book of abstracts. 427 pp. University of Strathclyde, Sheffield and West of Scotland Publication. ISBN: 978-0-94-764988-3

Plataforma de formación online para la comunidad de inmigrantes senegaleses centrada en alfabetización mediática

This paper is result of a research Project PCI funded by AECID between University Carlos III of Madrid and University Cheikh Anta Diop. Our aim is to design and edit an e-learning platform characterized by a user interface adapted to the cultural heritage of Senegalese immigrant communities living in Madrid. This project, implemented by the NGO "Casa de Senegal" was developed using a qualitative methodology of participant observation and interviews with teachers and students of this center. As a result it has been developed a map of icons typical of Wolof culture for use in representing the commands in the e-learning platform: e-Senegalaise. Platform created specifically to provide a web environment for contextual learning in a Senegalese immigrant community. As a result it was found that Senegalese immigrants had digital and media skills enough to be able to act autonomously if possessed of a platform for media literacy. However, its competences are limited when try access to basic local news as strategy for his social integration. Local news such as training courses or social grants. A second conclusion is that access to local media plays an essential role for them as a factor of social inclusion as we find a greater integration between those with predominant local information. Este trabajo es resultado de una investigación financiada a través de un proyecto de cooperación PCI de la AECID, entre la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid y la Universidad Cheik Anta Diop. Su objetivo es el diseño y edición de una plataforma de aprendizaje e-learning caracterizada por un interfaz de usuario adaptado al acervo cultural de las comunidades inmigrantes senegalesas residentes en Madrid. Este proyecto, aplicado en la ONG “Casa de Senegal", se desarrolló empleando una metodología cuanti-cualitativa de observación participante y entrevistas con docentes y discentes senegaleses del centro. Como resultado se ha ido elaborando un mapa de iconos propios de la cultura wolof para su utilización en la representación de los comandos en la plataforma de aprendizaje e-Senegalaise. Plataforma creada específicamente para proporcionar un entorno web contextual para el aprendizaje en una comunidad inmigrante senegalesa.Como resultado se constató que los inmigrantes senegaleses contaban con competencias digitales y mediáticas suficientes como para poder actuar de forma autónoma si disponían de una plataforma para su alfabetización mediática. Sin embargo, sus competencias se ven limitadas cuando tratan de acceder a noticias locales básicas facilitadoras de su integración, tales como noticias sobre cursos de formación o ayudas. Una segunda conclusión es que el acceso a los medios locales juega un papel esencial para ellos como factor de inclusión social dado que constatamos una mayor integración entre aquellos con mayor dominio de la información local

Expert Rev Mol Diagn

IntroductionHIV self-testing (HIVST), whereby an individual performs and interprets their own rapid screening test at home, is another tool to increase the proportion of at-risk individuals who know their status. Globally, HIVST has rapidly been adopted through global partnerships to ensure equitable access to tests in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).Area CoveredThis review discusses the regulatory burdens of HIV self-testing within United States while examining the use of HIV self-tests on a global scale. While the United States only has one approved HIV self-test, numerous tests have been prequalified by the WHO.Expert OpinionDespite the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the first and only self-test in 2012, there have been no other tests that have undergone FDA consideration due to regulatory barriers. This, in turn, has stifled market competition. Despite existing evidence that such programs are an innovative approach to testing hesitant or hard-to-reach populations, high individual test cost and bulky packaging makes large-scale, mail-out, HIV self-testing programs expensive. COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated public demand for self-testing\u2014HIV self-test programs should capitalize on this to increase the proportion of at-risk people who know their status and are linked to care to contribute to ending the HIV epidemic.D43 TW009771/TW/FIC NIH HHSUnited States/U01 PS005204/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHSUnited States/U01PS005204/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/U54 EB007958/EB/NIBIB NIH HHSUnited States/UM1 AI068613/AI/NIAID NIH HHSUnited States

Hidden in plain sight:low-literacy adults in a developed country overcoming social and educational challenges through mobile learning support tools

Illiteracy is often associated with people in developing countries. However, an estimated 50 % of adults in a developed country such as Canada lack the literacy skills required to cope with the challenges of today's society; for them, tasks such as reading, understanding, basic arithmetic, and using everyday items are a challenge. Many community-based organizations offer resources and support for these adults, yet overall functional literacy rates are not improving. This is due to a wide range of factors, such as poor retention of adult learners in literacy programs, obstacles in transferring the acquired skills from the classroom to the real life, personal attitudes toward learning, and the stigma of functional illiteracy. In our research we examined the opportunities afforded by personal mobile devices in providing learning and functional support to low-literacy adults. We present the findings of an exploratory study aimed at investigating the reception and adoption of a technological solution for adult learners. ALEX© is a mobile application designed for use both in the classroom and in daily life in order to help low-literacy adults become increasingly literate and independent. Such a solution complements literacy programs by increasing users' motivation and interest in learning, and raising their confidence levels both in their education pursuits and in facing the challenges of their daily lives. We also reflect on the challenges we faced in designing and conducting our research with two user groups (adults enrolled in literacy classes and in an essential skills program) and contrast the educational impact and attitudes toward such technology between these. Our conclusions present the lessons learned from our evaluations and the impact of the studies' specific challenges on the outcome and uptake of such mobile assistive technologies in providing practical support to low-literacy adults in conjunction with literacy and essential skills training