Dataset Information

Perceptibility and the "Choice Experience": User Sensory Perceptions and Experiences Inform Vaginal Prevention Product Design.

ABSTRACT: The development of pericoital (on demand) vaginal HIV prevention technologies remains a global health priority. Clinical trials to date have been challenged by nonadherence, leading to an inability to demonstrate product efficacy. The work here provides new methodology and results to begin to address this limitation. We created validated scales that allow users to characterize sensory perceptions and experiences when using vaginal gel formulations. In this study, we sought to understand the user sensory perceptions and experiences (USPEs) that characterize the preferred product experience for each participant. Two hundred four women evaluated four semisolid vaginal formulations using the USPE scales at four randomly ordered formulation evaluation visits. Women were asked to select their preferred formulation experience for HIV prevention among the four formulations evaluated. The scale scores on the Sex-associated USPE scales (e.g., Initial Penetration and Leakage) for each participant's selected formulation were used in a latent class model analysis. Four classes of preferred formulation experiences were identified. Sociodemographic and sexual history variables did not predict class membership; however, four specific scales were significantly related to class: Initial Penetration, Perceived Wetness, Messiness, and Leakage. The range of preferred user experiences represented by the scale scores creates a potential target range for product development, such that products that elicit scale scores that fall within the preferred range may be more acceptable, or tolerable, to the population under study. It is recommended that similar analyses should be conducted with other semisolid vaginal formulations, and in other cultures, to determine product property and development targets.

SUBMITTER: Guthrie KM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5067921 | biostudies-other | 2016 Oct/Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Perceptibility and the "Choice Experience": User Sensory Perceptions and Experiences Inform Vaginal Prevention Product Design.

Guthrie Kate Morrow KM Dunsiger Shira S Vargas Sara E SE Fava Joseph L JL Shaw Julia G JG Rosen Rochelle K RK Kiser Patrick F PF Kojic E Milu EM Friend David R DR Katz David F DF

AIDS research and human retroviruses 20160329 10-11

The development of pericoital (on demand) vaginal HIV prevention technologies remains a global health priority. Clinical trials to date have been challenged by nonadherence, leading to an inability to demonstrate product efficacy. The work here provides new methodology and results to begin to address this limitation. We created validated scales that allow users to characterize sensory perceptions and experiences when using vaginal gel formulations. In this study, we sought to understand the user ...[more]

PMID: 26942455

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Project description:Users' sensory perceptions and experiences (USPEs; perceptibility) of drug formulations can critically impact product adoption and adherence, especially when products rely on appropriate user behaviors (timing of administration, dosing measurement) for effectiveness. The use of topical gel formulations for effective antihuman immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) vaginal microbicides has been associated with messiness and other use-associated challenges, resulting in low adherence. Nonetheless, such formulations remain attractive due to good pharmacokinetics and resulting pharmacodynamics through their volume and surface contact for drug delivery into luminal fluids and mucosa. Consequently, advocates and scientists continue to pursue topical forms [semisolid (e.g., gel, suppository); solid (e.g., film)] to deliver select drugs and offer user choice in HIV/STI prevention. The current data build on previously validated USPE scales evaluating perceptibility of gels with various biophysical/rheological properties. Specifically, increased formulation parameter space adds a new set of properties inherent in quick-dissolving film. We compared film, a product adding no discernable volume to the vaginal environment, to 2 and 3.5 mL hydroxyethyl cellulose gel to consider the impact of volume on user experience. We also examined the USPE scales for evaluation of male sexual partners' experiences. The original USPE scales functioned as expected. Additionally, six new USPE scales were identified in this enhanced parameter space. Significant differences were noted between USPEs in pairwise comparisons, with largest differences between film and high-volume gel. Product developers and behavioral scientists can use these scales to design products, optimizing user experience and maximizing adherence and delivery of efficacious anti-HIV/STI pharmaceuticals. They can be extended to evaluation of additional formulations, devices, and compartments, as well as single- and multipurpose pharmaceuticals. In broader contexts, USPEs could be of value in evaluating formulations and devices to prevent/treat other diseases (e.g., ophthalmologic, dermatologic). Steadfast attention should be given to patient experience, and, where applicable, experiences of partners and/or caregivers.

Project description:BackgroundExcessive alcohol consumption is a major public health problem, with substance use early in life contributing to higher levels of use later in life. Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology for alcohol prevention among adolescents that could solve the problem of insufficient outreach to the target group of young people. The co-created German Virtual LimitLab simulation is one of the few examples of VR-based alcohol prevention tools and consists of a virtual house party simulation. The aims of Virtual LimitLab are to increase the users' awareness of how social pressure can influence their own decision-making as well as to enable various actions and communication strategies in order to train competencies when dealing with alcohol. The present study thus aims to explore adolescents' content- and technique-specific perceptions of Virtual LimitLab in order to gain insights into user experiences and to test the prototype with the German target group.MethodsFour semi-structured focus groups with adolescents aged 15-18 years (n = 13) were conducted and analyzed using thematic analyses. A user experience questionnaire (UEQ-S) was applied in order to quantitatively assess adolescents' satisfaction with Virtual LimitLab.ResultsThree main themes were identified (VR experience, content, and technical aspects). Participants positively assessed both the content and the technical aspects of Virtual LimitLab. This trend was also seen by the UEQ-S data, which yielded positive ratings for both pragmatic and hedonic quality. The broad variety of options in the simulation that allow the user to try new behaviors was perceived particularly positively. In general, Virtual LimitLab was regarded as an innovative tool that encourages adolescents to think critically about their personal alcohol consumption. Technical errors in the simulation and users' difficulties in identifying with the simulation were the main points of criticism.ConclusionsFeedback from adolescent users revealed positive and therefore promising results when using Virtual LimitLab as a gaming alcohol-prevention tool. Some technical aspects still need to be improved in order to further refine the prototype, and suggestions for expanding the content of the application have already been made.

Project description:BackgroundIn many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health system capacities to address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are often inadequate. In these countries, wearable health technologies such as smartbands and smartwatches could be used as part of public health programmes to improve the monitoring, prevention, and control of NCDs. Considering this potential, the purpose of this study was to explore user experiences and perceptions of a health wearable in Cambodia.MethodsData collection involved a survey, conducted between November 2019 and January 2020, among different categories of participants (including hypertensive participants, non-hypertensive participants, postgraduate students, and civil servants). All participants were given a sample of a watch-type wearable and advised to use it day and night. One month after product delivery, we conducted a survey to explore their views and experiences. Results were analysed by using descriptive statistics and Chi square or Fisher's exact test to compare responses from urban and rural participants.ResultsA total of 156 adult participants completed the study. Technology acceptance was positive overall. 89.1% of the participants said they would continue using the watch and 76.9% of them would recommend it to either friends or relatives, while 94% said the device stimulated them to think more frequently about their health. However, challenges to technology adoption were also identified, including concerns with the accuracy and quality of the device and unfamiliarity with the concept of health self-monitoring, especially among the elderly. Short battery life and cost were also identified as potential barriers to continued use.ConclusionsHealth wearables are a promising new technology that could be used in Cambodia and in other LMICs to strengthen health sector responses to the challenges of NCDs. However, this technology should be carefully adapted to the local context and the needs of less resourced population groups. In addition, further studies should examine if adequate health sector support and infrastructure are in place to implement and sustain the technology.

Project description:BackgroundWearable exoskeletons can be a powerful tool for the facilitation of ambulation of complete Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) subjects, which has several psychological and physical advantages. However, exoskeleton control is difficult for this group of users and requires a long period of training. People with SCI not only lack the motor control, but also miss the sensory information from below the level of the lesion, which is for example very important in their perception of body posture and makes balancing with an exoskeleton difficult. It is hypothesized that through sensory substitution part of the missing sensory information can be provided and might thereby improve the control of an exoskeleton. However, it is not known which information would be most important to receive while using an exoskeleton and how this feedback should be provided.MethodsTo investigate the preferences of users of an exoskeleton, a questionnaire was filled out by 10 SCI subjects who underwent a training program with a commercial exoskeleton (ReWalk). The questionnaire consisted of questions about the use of the exoskeleton to identify which information is missing and which instructions from the therapists were needed to be able to control the exoskeleton. The second part of the questionnaire focused on the possibilities of sensory feedback and preferences for stimulation methods (auditory, vibrotactile or visual) and feedback timing (discrete or continuous) were investigated. Furthermore, six options for feedback parameters (step initiation, continuous and discrete gait phases, foot position and mediolateral and anteroposterior weight shift) were proposed and the respondents were asked to indicate their preferences.ResultsThree feedback parameters (feedback about mediolateral and anteroposterior weight shift and feedback about step initiation) were considered as possibly helpful by the respondents. Furthermore, there were slight preferences for the use of vibrotactile (over auditory and visual) and discrete (over continuous) feedback.ConclusionsThe answers of the respondents on the optimal feedback parameters were rather variable and therefore it is recommended to let the users choose their preferred feedback system during a training session with several feedback options. However, there are slight preferences for the use of vibrotactile stimulation provided in a discrete way.

Project description:Objectives(1) To explore individual perceptions on experiences of people receiving and/or delivering a shared-care clozapine serviceand (2) to gain an understanding of effectiveness and acceptability of shared-care clozapine.DesignInterpretative phenomenological analysis guided the delivery and analysis of a semistructured interview and focus group study designed to explore participant experience of shared-care clozapine. Ethical approval 13/EM/0286 was gained in July 2013 from East Midlands-Nottingham 1 REC.ParticipantsEight stakeholder groups from Adult and Forensic Mental Health involved in shared-care clozapine provision delivered in primary care were identified for recruitment from one mental health trust in England (six different groups of healthcare professionals (HCPs), clozapine service users (CSUs) and their carers). To be eligible for recruitment, all potential participants had to be either providing, receiving or the carer of a person receiving clozapine by shared care.Results32 HCPs and 6 CSUs were recruited and 14 interviews and 6 participant homogenous focus groups were run. Four shared superordinate themes were identified: Clozapine Process, The Sharing of Care, The Provision of Care and Multi-professional Relationships. Differences between Adult and Forensic engagement in shared care were noted and both HCP and CSU relationships were mapped to the Wish conceptual framework of relationships to provide insight into how shared-care clozapine can provide a mechanism for provision of person-centred care, which was present in the Forensic HCP-CSU but not General Adult HCP-CSU relationship.ConclusionsThe Forensic HCP/CSU relationship demonstrated how cross-sector working through shared-care clozapine can provide a mechanism for provision of person-centred care by enabling a person-centred focus to care delivery which supported CSUs to live as independently as possible. Person-centred care demonstrably improves patient care outcomes and wider implementation of shared-care clozapine could provide greater integration of people with serious mental illness and reduce stigma within the community while improving patient outcomes.

Dataset Information

Perceptibility and the "Choice Experience": User Sensory Perceptions and Experiences Inform Vaginal Prevention Product Design.

Publications

Perceptibility and the "Choice Experience": User Sensory Perceptions and Experiences Inform Vaginal Prevention Product Design.

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