mHEaL and mHealth in a Restricted Environment

Abstract

This paper extends principles of usability and health information seeking to explore the development of an offline application for a special population of information consumers in a women's residential drug and treatment center. The offline application, called mHEal, will track and deliver mental health literacy (MHL) information to consumers, thereby increasing self-efficacy. Personalization of MHL services via a computer-based intervention required advanced usage of speculative usability, followed by design of an offline application. The paper will comment upon procedures of implementation, including a hybridized person-and-technology encounter, before closing on further usability considerations and implications for future health information technologies.