Design patterns in Internet-Based Intervention Programs for various types of mental health issues

Abstract

Few studies have examined the role of visual design in Internet-Based Interventions (IBI). However, research from the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) shows that visual design may improve user understanding and ease the cognitive load. This study seeks to identify and describe how IBIs in the mental health domain are designed in terms of visual dimensions. The study investigates both the design process as well as its resulting product. A content analysis of four IBI programs was conducted. The content analysis helped generate questions preceding interviews with healthcare experts and researchers. The results show that most of the interviewed experts are not directly involved in the design-decision on a structural and visual level. Thus, their knowledge of content and insights into how to best design IBIs for various user-groups might not be fully utilized. Moreover, collaboration among the interdisciplinary fields proved challenging, as difference in research interest and background varied. Nevertheless, experts’ knowledge and experiences provided insightful descriptions of how IBIs can be designed. The findings of this study might aid researchers and domain experts in designing aesthetically pleasing interfaces that can improve comprehension and usability.