Mood on the Move: testing the useability of a smartwatch mood tracker

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Mood on The Move: a usability and acceptability test of a prototype digital wearable mood tracker, designed to help young people in hospital settings who self-harm

  • IRAS ID

    342578

  • Contact name

    Celeste M Foster

  • Contact email

    c.m.foster@salford.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Salford

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 4 months, 18 days

  • Research summary

    Development of evidence-based interventions for young people who self-harm, is an important public health issue. This study will progress the development of a prototype digital mental health smart watch application (Mood on the Move), designed as a communication tool to help young people and clinicians understand individual patterns of self-harm and other forms of emotional distress.
    We will work with young adults (16-25) with expertise by experience, using co-design methods, to evaluate the useability, acceptability and functionality of the prototype we have designed, in order to improve it.
    The prototype digital application has been co-designed with citizen scientist co-investigator, young people, parents and clinical stakeholders. It is designed as a tool to aid shared understanding and communication of the driving/maintaining factors in a young person's cycle of self-harm, to be used as an adjunct to usual care to enhance individualised treatment planning.
    The aim of the study is to undertake a useability and acceptability test of the prototype design, using co-design principles with young people who will be acting as experts by experience to evaluate the prototype.
    Co-design methods will be used to undertake a useability and acceptability test and co-production of the Mood on the Move smart watch mood tracking application, in collaboration with young people and clinicians, over a 4-month period. Young people will be recruited to wear and test the device over a period of 1-4 weeks (in accordance with their preference). They will be interviewed after this test period to learn about how they found engaging with device and the web platform to review their information, and to identify any improvements or changes that need making to the design. We will work with residential and clinical staff who supported young people during the test period to understand their views about the application, using focus group methods.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/WM/0087

  • Date of REC Opinion

    11 Jun 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion