Foundational knowledge - The process of mHealth software development

5.3. Testing the mHealth software

Test message concepts, content, and user interface by using a User-Centered Design (UCD). UCD refers to “a design process whereby the users of an intended system or product are involved throughout the development processes, and the design process is centered around the needs and requirements of the end-user” (Davies & Mueller, 2020). UCD can be performed using interviews, focus groups, user stories, personas, scenarios, stories, surveys, stakeholder analysis, and any other tools that might fit usability testing needs (Davies & Mueller, 2020).

In general, three testing types are conducted. There is internal testing, conducted by the person(s) who has the tester role in the team, with the purpose to find errors in the way the software is functioning.

The second type of testing is usability testing. Usability testing can be either moderated or unmoderated and it can involve either experts in the behavior targeted by the app or end-users of the app. In moderated usability testing, users are invited to interact with the mobile app on their own mobile device, as they would in usual circumstances, by following a list of pre-defined tasks (for example, the user can be asked to find a piece of information available in the app or to change a setting in the app) and while thinking aloud. Throughout this process, the screen and the face of the users are recorded simultaneously. In unmoderated usability testing, users utilize the app independently for several days or weeks and their activity in the app is recorded with various screen recording software already embedded in the mHealth app. One such software is Smartlook, which is developed to analyze users’ behaviors and generate qualitative and quantitative insights that help teams improve their products.