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Appl Clin Inform 2026; 17(01): 039-045
DOI: 10.1055/a-2786-0291
Research Article

Optimizing HIV Care Engagement: Usability of a mHealth App for Identifying and Retaining Individuals with Nonviral Suppression in Digital Cohort

Authors

  • Fabiana Cristina Dos Santos 

    1   School of Nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Sophia Mclnerney

    2   School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States

  • Miya C. Tate

    3   School of Social Work, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

  • Aadia Rana

    4   Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

  • D Scott Batey

    3   School of Social Work, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

  • Rebecca Schnall

    2   School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States

Funding Information Research reported in this study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through grant number: UG3 AI176566. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Abstract

Background

Drive to Zero is a mobile health application (app) designed to identify and retain people with HIV (PWH) who have experienced challenges with achieving or maintaining viral suppression. The app targets PWH who have lacked documented HIV care in the past months and are experiencing medication adherence barriers. Features include an interactive chat for communicating with the study team and access to educational resources to support care engagement and health management.

Objectives

This usability study aimed to assess the Drive to Zero app's ease of use and interface design through expert heuristic evaluation and end-user testing.

Methods

Usability was evaluated through two approaches: heuristic evaluations conducted by five informatics experts following Nielsen's usability principles, and end-user testing with 20 PWH using the validated Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire and qualitative interviews to collect feedback on app functionality and user experience.

Results

Heuristic experts and end-users demonstrated satisfaction with the app's appearance, reporting that it has a simple and intuitive interface for identifying and retaining PWH, which will assist them with study engagement and ultimately reengage with HIV care. However, participants highlighted areas needing improvement, suggesting better accessibility of “home” and “help” buttons to improve user control and a more detailed explanation of the incentive program to enhance user engagement and retention.

Conclusion

Usability evaluations provided valuable insights into the Drive to Zero app's design. Areas for improvement were enhancing user controls and improving the readability of the incentive program. These findings will guide iterative refinements, ensuring that future versions of the app improve the usability and acceptability of its target audience.

Keywords

HIV - consumer health informatics - human–computer interaction - interfaces and usability - smartphone

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Informed verbal consent was obtained from interview participants who were notified of their right to refuse to participate and the study team's procedures for deidentifying data.


Data Availability Statement

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.




Publication History

Received: 05 August 2025

Accepted: 11 January 2026

Article published online:
30 January 2026

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