Evaluation of a Mobile Application for Preventing the Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs Among Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate a mobile application developed to prevent the use of alcohol and/or other drugs among adolescent students. Method: methodological study with a quantitative approach carried out from July 2018 to July 2021 based on the stages of Contextualized Learning Design for technology development: analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. The content evaluation was carried out by 22 experts. The application’s graphic design and usability were tested by 13 teenagers representing the target audience. Results: the mobile application “Educação Para Prevenção” [Education For Prevention] addressed the following psychoactive substances: alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crack, cocaine, inhalants (glue and poppers) and amphetamines, dealing with topics such as concepts, physiological and behavioral effects, use during adolescence, prevention and harm reduction strategies. The average Content Validity Index score was 0.87. There was a high level of agreement among adolescents regarding the graphic design and the usability (96.6%) of the application. Conclusion: the results show that the experts and the adolescents considered the application valid, and nurses will be able to use it as a facilitating instrument in health education actions in schools, aiming to prevent the use of alcohol and/or other drugs among adolescents. It is recommended that an intervention study be carried out to evaluate the effect of the technology developed.