YTH StreetConnect: Development and Usability of a Mobile App for Homeless and Unstably Housed Youth

Abstract

BackgroundHomeless and unstably housed (H/UH) youth are disproportionately affected by sexual health issues, including human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, and dating violence, and are at a higher risk for poor mental health and underutilization of services. Research suggests that linking health care to H/UH adolescents might help improve their continuity of care, with most preferring to access health care information via the Internet. YTH StreetConnect is a dual-purpose mobile app that helps H/UH youth access health and vital services in Santa Clara County, CA, USA. We developed YTH StreetConnect PRO in parallel with the youth app as a companion tablet app for providers who serve H/UH youth.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to develop a mobile app to support H/UH youth and their providers in accessing health and vital resources, and to conduct usability and feasibility testing of the app among H/UH youth and technical consultants with local expertise in serving H/UH youth.MethodsFormative research included a literature review on H/UH youths’ mobile phone and Internet usage. In January 2015, we conducted interviews with medical and service providers of H/UH youth. Usability and feasibility testing were done with target audiences. Additionally, we conducted focus groups with youth regarding the app’s youth friendliness, accessibility, and usefulness.ResultsH/UH youth and their providers noted the app’s functionality, youth friendliness, and resources. Usability testing proposed improvements to the app, including visual updates to the user interface, map icons, new underrepresented resource categories, and the addition of a peer rating system. Limitations included a small sample size among H/UH youth and providers and a single site for the study (Santa Clara County, CA), making the findings ungeneralizable to the US population.ConclusionsYTH StreetConnect is a promising way to increase service utilization, provide referral access, and share resources among H/UH youth and providers. Input from H/UH youth and providers offers insights on how to improve future models of YTH StreetConnect and similar programs that assist H/UH youth.

Using Facebook for Improving the Psychological Well-Being of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: Experimental and Longitudinal Study

“…Consequently, there is coincidence with other studies as regards the recommendation of providing more public spaces and free and quality Wi-Fi spots to facilitate access to ICT and SNS for individuals experiencing homelessness and other groups facing extreme social exclusion, on the grounds of the multiple benefits associated with internet access [ 25 , 50 ].…”

Use of Digital Mental Health for Marginalized and Underserved Populations

“…First, technology can serve as an important bridge to accessing a wealth of resources. For example, the StreetConnect app provides a broad range of referral resources intended to address the various needs of those experiencing homelessness [31]. Second, for service providers working with individuals experiencing homelessness requires an appreciation of how to reach them physically and digitally.…”

mHealth na prevenção das Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST)

“…Of the 15 studies selected, one was published in 2017 14 , five were published in 2016 [15][16][17][18][19] , six were published in 2015 [20][21][22][23][24][25] , one was published in 2014 26 and two were published in 2013 27,28 . Most studies were conducted in the United States [14][15][16][18][19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27] , the United Kingdom 17,22 and in Africa 28 . All the studies were published in English.…”

“…With regard to the methodological processes used in the development of the 15 studies analyzed in this review, nine studies used formative research 15,16,[18][19][20]22,23,27,28 , one study used mixed methods 25 , and five studies used qualitative approaches 14,17,21,24,26 .…”

“…All the studies use the focus group technique to obtain data [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] . Two studies deepened the findings by carrying out individual interviews 21,28 and six studies also collected quantitative data 15,16,19,20,25,28 .…”