Prototype Development and Initial Usability Testing of Managing My MS My Way

When designing mobile health (mHealth) applications for persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), patient stakeholder involvement is crucial to identify user interface (UI) and experience (UX) issues that can affect usability and accessibility. PwMS can experience impairments in cognition, fine motor functioning, and vision, which can impact adoption of mHealth. This research highlights the specific needs of this population when designing accessible interfaces for remote clinical interventions, as evidenced through the development process of the Thought Reframing Worksheet in Managing My MS My Way (M⁴W), a novel mHealth-based fatigue self-management application. Patient stakeholders (n = 10) completed think-aloud procedures with a low-fidelity prototype development in Figma. Action points for identified UI/UX issues were implemented in the high-fidelity prototype. After deploying the high-fidelity version through React Native Expo, expert-led cognitive walkthroughs (n = 3) were conducted, with process flow errors and significant design consistencies identified and addressed. The next steps for usability testing, including a heuristic evaluation and field testing, are detailed. The final version of M⁴W will be an accessible mHealth application that reflects the needs of users with cognitive, fine motor, and visual impairments.