Virtual Participatory Design of a Transgender Health Information Resource (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Using participatory design principles, we created an information resource for the transgender and gender diverse community. The resource was informed by the needs of the transgender and gender diverse community with input from experts in information science and transgender health, and our community advisory board. The resource is delivered through a mobile application; given the current near ubiquitous use of smartphones as a method of accessing the internet among the US population. The resource application provides tailored health and wellness information and was designed to enhance adoption, dissemination, and sustainability. OBJECTIVE Health research - including development of digital health tools - has been forced to adapt to the virtual environment due to COVID-19. The purpose of this paper is to describe virtual participatory design methods used to develop the Transgender Health Information Resource digital health tool. METHODS A three-stage virtual participatory design approach was implemented using online collaborative tools including Zoom, Mural, REDCap and Justinmind. This approach maintained the benefits and integrity of traditional in-person design sessions, mitigated any deficits, and exploited previously unconsidered benefits of virtual methods. RESULTS The first design session, consisting of 4 participant co-designers, resulted in 301 interactions, 79 verbal comments and 222 virtual manipulations which propelled the co-design process and decision making. CONCLUSIONS Virtual participatory design can elicit input and decisions from co-designers to develop a health information resource, including a user interface. Co-designers were routinely highly engaged. The virtual approach to participatory design, which included online collaboration tools, was efficient and a feasible methodological approach