Integrating a Human-Centered Design Tool, dScout, to Design a Web-Based Intervention for Parent-Adolescent Sexual Health Communication.

Abstract

Black male adolescents and young adults (BMAYA) experience pronounced and persistent sexual health disparities compared to other groups in the US. This original research focuses on the early-stage development of The TALK, a nurse-led multi-pronged web-based eHealth intervention to improve shared parent-adolescent sexual health knowledge and communication. A community-engaged approach was used to codesign the intervention with a community advisory council and two Black-owned barbershop owners. Researchers leveraged human-centered design process using dscout, a virtual ethnographic research tool, to examine the usability, feasibility and acceptability of The TALK with parents of BMAYA (n = 13). Open- and close-ended questions captured qualitative data of end-users' experiences of and preferences for intervention technology and content within the three primary intervention components: videos, website, and an interactive activity. Feedback from participants on digital design, functionality, and overall ease of use and navigation of The TALK was beneficial for the initial intervention codesign process. Feedback was positive and constructive, highlighting where the intervention was culturally relevant and satisfying for users with recommendations for changes in areas of design friction and content accessibility before efficacy and effectiveness testing. This study helps understand how The TALK engaged participants and assisted in parent-adolescent communication through beta testing the technological design and content. Considering the potential for eHealth technologies in sexual health promotion and prevention for BMAYA, thoughtful design and quality experience should be developed early in the intervention design through human-centered processes and community-engaged approaches.