Digital Patient Decision Aid for Antiobesity Medications: Mixed Methods Study of Human-Centered Design and Usability Evaluation

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: P<.001 for usability improvement

• Effect Size: SUS score increase from 60.53 to 73.65 points

• Primary Outcome: Usability improvement measured by System Usability Scale

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: 13.12 point improvement in SUS score representing transition from poor to good usability

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

Demonstrated good usability and potential for workflow integration in weight management clinics Limited direct applicability due to cultural adaptation for Mandarin-speaking populations; would require local adaptation for Australian healthcare system including PBS medication costs and TGA-approved formulations Patients with overweight or obesity considering antiobesity medications, particularly in Asian healthcare settings

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The global burden of obesity continues to rise, highlighting the need for patient-centered approaches to weight management. Shared decision-making is particularly important in the selection of antiobesity medications (AOMs), as treatment options differ in mechanism, effectiveness, side effects, routes of administration, and cost. Despite this preference-sensitive context, only a few patient decision aids (PDAs) have been culturally and clinically adapted for use in Asian populations. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate a digital PDA, OptiWeight, to support shared decision-making for AOM selection, incorporating perspectives from health care professionals and patients. METHODS: This mixed methods, multicenter study, conducted between August 2022 and November 2025, applied a 4-stage human-centered design process. An evidence-informed prototype was developed based on clinical guidelines, followed by 2 rounds of usability testing using think-aloud protocols to assess navigation structures, perceived usability (System Usability Scale [SUS]), and cognitive workload (NASA Task Load Index [NASA-TLX]). Semistructured interviews with health care professionals specializing in weight management, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, informed clinical implementation and workflow integration. Finally, patients with overweight or obesity evaluated usability, cognitive workload, and overall user experience in outpatient settings. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and 1-way analysis of variance examined changes in usability and workload across stages. RESULTS: A total of 174 individuals were included across all study stages (usability testing among adults: n=78; health care professional interviews: n=18; and clinical evaluation among patients: n=78). Iterative usability testing comparing system- and user-controlled navigation structures revealed complementary strengths and limitations, leading to the adoption of a hybrid navigation structure supporting both sequential guidance and flexible comparison. Additional design requirements included the use of icon arrays to enhance risk comprehension and localization features such as treatment cost displays and clarification of socially impactful side effects. Perceived usability increased from initial testing to clinical evaluation (SUS: 60.53-73.65, P<.001), meeting good usability thresholds, while cognitive workload decreased (NASA-TLX: 40.35-16.69, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Through a systematic human-centered design process integrating health care professional and patient perspectives, OptiWeight addresses the lack of culturally adapted PDAs for AOM decision-making in Mandarin-speaking populations while capturing user needs-particularly regarding navigation flexibility and risk visualization. The final tool demonstrated good usability and feasibility, and workflow considerations suggest potential for integration into routine weight-management care. Further research is needed to evaluate its impact on decision quality and real-world implementation outcomes.

References

1. 1.Wang, L. J., Wang, Y. J., Cheng, Y. L., Fang, W. L., Wang, W., & Zheng, M. C. (2026). Digital Patient Decision Aid for Antiobesity Medications: Mixed Methods Study of Human-Centered Design and Usability Evaluation. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28(5), e89428. https://doi.org/10.2196/89428