IDEAS (Integrate, Design, Assess, and Share): A Framework and Toolkit of Strategies for the Development of More Effective Digital Interventions to Change Health Behavior

Abstract

Developing effective digital interventions to change health behavior has been a challenging goal for academics and industry players alike. Guiding intervention design using the best combination of approaches available is necessary if effective technologies are to be developed. Behavioral theory, design thinking, user-centered design, rigorous evaluation, and dissemination each have widely acknowledged merits in their application to digital health interventions. This paper introduces IDEAS, a step-by-step process for integrating these approaches to guide the development and evaluation of more effective digital interventions. IDEAS is comprised of 10 phases (empathize, specify, ground, ideate, prototype, gather, build, pilot, evaluate, and share), grouped into 4 overarching stages: Integrate, Design, Assess, and Share (IDEAS). Each of these phases is described and a summary of theory-based behavioral strategies that may inform intervention design is provided. The IDEAS framework strives to provide sufficient detail without being overly prescriptive so that it may be useful and readily applied by both investigators and industry partners in the development of their own mHealth, eHealth, and other digital health behavior change interventions.

3MD for Chronic Conditions, a Model for Motivational mHealth Design: Embedded Case Study (Preprint)

“…The 3MD model places a strong focus in understanding the context of the target population and the intended intervention, this is in line with what has been stated in the literature as fundamental in the development of behavioral change digital health interventions [48,74,130]. Other design models such as the PSD [74] and the IDEAS model [75] agree on the importance of fully understanding contextual factors but are not specific for mHealth solutions or chronic conditions. 3MD for Chronic conditions was intentionally designed to be agnostic to specific behavioral change models making it easier to adapt to different theories as needed.…”

“…In this model, the need for recognizing the intent of persuasion, understanding the persuasion event, and defining and/or recognizing the strategies in use are key. Another BCSS design model is the IDEAS framework [75], in this model behavioral change theory and design thinking are integrated to guide the development of digital health interventions. The Chronic Disease mHealth App Intervention Design Framework [76] is specific to mHealth and it focuses on chronic conditions, addressing issues present in the other frameworks.…”

The Development of VegEze: Smartphone App to Increase Vegetable Consumption in Australian Adults (Preprint)

“…The IDEAS framework (Integrate, Design, Assess and Share) is a flexible guide to the development of digital interventions, and while depicted as a linear process, is intended to be iterative and stages revisited as required during the development process [13]. The framework draws on behavioural theory, design thinking, user-centered design, rigorous evaluation and dissemination -which have all been shown to be important for digital health interventions [13].…”

“…The framework draws on behavioural theory, design thinking, user-centered design, rigorous evaluation and dissemination -which have all been shown to be important for digital health interventions [13]. Figure 1 is an adaptation of the IDEAS framework flowchart [13] reflecting the order and process that was used in the development of the VegEze app.…”

Trends and Visibility of “Digital Health” as a Keyword in Articles by JMIR Publications in the New Millennium: Bibliographic-Bibliometric Analysis (Preprint)

“…This increasing involvement has reflected itself in the published peer-reviewed literature on digital health, mainly as the growing number and diversity of research projects, study protocols, publications, and dedicated journals in digital health domain [3]. Also, the empowerment of healthcare system clients (including patients) and the progressive desire for innovation by industries and enterprises [4] continue to reinforce the need for valid and trustworthy scientific evidence on digital health for the benefit of public health.…”