Designing NEAT-O:
Creating Features and Flow for a Patient-centered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App for Adults Suffering from Opioid Use Disorder
My Role:
UX Design and Research Team Member
Methods and Tools:
Secondary Research, Competitive Audit and Data Analysis, Stakeholder Interviews, Experience Journey Map,Storyboard, Annotated Wireframes, Interactive Prototyping, Dall-E, Canva, Figma
BackgroundEducating and Encouraging Behavioral Change
The Client
Justin Anker and Linda Rinehart are both assistant professors in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota and specialize as researchers in the field of substance use disorders. They are collaborating with Scott Burwell of Neurotype Inc. to develop a digital therapeutic called NEAT-O.
The Product
NEAT-O is a digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and concurrent internalizing disorders (INTDs). NEAT-O is a cross-platform mobile app (iOS/Android) designed to support patients from account creation through daily condition management. Initially available only through prescription, this app aims to be classified as a Software as Medical Device (SaMD) and tested for FDA clearance as an mHealth app.
My Role
I collaborated with a team of three UX designers to develop a patient-centered strategy for the experiential design of this app.
My role focused on shaping the experience strategy and bringing the project to life visually with low fidelity wireframes. Specifically, I concentrated on designing the app's Daily Interactions, Push Notifications, and Emergency features.
The ProblemCreating an Experience Strategy for the Digital Therapeutic App NEAT-O
Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) often face concurrent internalizing disorders (INTDs) like anxiety and mood disorders, complicating recovery. Traditional treatments struggle to address these co-morbidities effectively, creating a need for a comprehensive digital solution. NEAT-O, a cross-platform app, offers a structured CBT program to support patients from onboarding through daily management.
Anker/Rienhart Labs tasked us with designing a patient-centered experience that encourages consistent use and facilitates meaningful patient-provider communication, aiming to enhance the overall care experience for individuals with OUD.
the UsersPatients and Providers: Privacy, Engagement, and Integration
Primary Audience:
NEAT-O's primary users are patients undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) who need effective, compassionate care. These individuals often struggle with both OUD and internalizing disorders (INTDs), requiring a comprehensive treatment approach. Ensuring patient data privacy is critical for building trust and maintaining confidentiality.
Secondary Audience:
Secondary users are addiction healthcare providers, including psychologists, doctors, and clinicians across various care settings. NEAT-O must gain their trust by demonstrating that the app complements their treatment plans and provides valuable patient progress data.
Future Considerations:
Future versions of NEAT-O will include a clinician interface to monitor patient use and progress, helping providers better integrate patient data into their care plans and ensuring the app's seamless integration into the healthcare ecosystem.
Project Planning and DirectionResearch
Before developing our plan, we conducted independent secondary research and a competitive audit, followed by data analysis and stakeholder interviews. This groundwork provided valuable insights into user needs and industry standards.
Foundation
With that data, we developed a Strategy Statement and Guiding Principles, which informed every decision we made. By consistently referring to these as we iterated and refined our design, we ensured efficient decision-making and informed feature development.
Strategy Statement
All patient experience touchpoints for NEAT-O will help adults suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) seeking treatment by helping them feel supported and hopeful in their journey to abstain from using opioids. We will focus on affirming healthy habit formation and providing supportive resources to educate and guide the user toward their goal of sobriety.
Guiding Design Principles
Humanitarian
NEAT-O’s primary goal is to help people suffering from OUD, driven by mission rather than profit.
Support
Recovery is a continuous journey taken one day at a time, and NEAT-O serves as a companion within a larger support system to help manage OUD.
Accessibility
NEAT-O is intended to provide greater convenience and accessibility for people suffering from OUD.
Education
NEAT-O aims to provide resources and tools so users can find what they need without having to meet with their therapist, and gain the ability to identify their own signs and triggers.
Recommended Features Default / Home Page
I designed a low-fidelity version of the Default Page, focusing on three main buttons that direct users to the most important tasks. Although we experimented with color during the design process, color and graphic design were not within the project's scope.
Journey Button: Takes users to their journey through the education modules.
Rationale: This feature is crucial for guiding users through structured learning and recovery modules, making it easy for them to follow their personalized treatment plan.
Resources Button: Takes users to a catalog of resources, including videos and articles on mindfulness, meditation, cravings management, self-soothing techniques, and recovery stories.
Rationale: Providing easily accessible resources empowers users with tools and knowledge to manage their recovery independently, complementing their structured treatment modules.
Streaks Button: Allows users to view self-reported data on their mindset, track sobriety, and enter data about cravings and triggers. This data is accumulated for eventual use by healthcare professionals.
Rationale: Tracking progress and self-reporting are vital for both user motivation and providing valuable data to healthcare providers, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment plan.
Wireframes by team member Connor Steffens
Push Notifications
Push notifications are central to the client's vision for the app. We created a storyboard detailing how and when these interactions might occur, allowing users to manage notifications for a personalized experience.
Rationale: Regular reminders and motivational messages help maintain user engagement and adherence to the treatment plan, while allowing customization ensures the notifications remain relevant and non-intrusive.
Emergency Button
Every page includes an emergency button. When tapped, it brings users to a screen offering a spectrum of responses based on their perception of the emergency. Contact information is pre-filled for efficiency and simplicity.
Rationale: Quick access to emergency support is critical for users in crisis. The pre-filled contact information streamlines the process, ensuring users can get the help they need without delay.
Next Steps Priorities for Future Development
If we were to continue working with Anker/Rinehart Lab and NeuroType, I would suggest the following priorities.
Conduct user testing with an interactive prototype to gather feedback on the UI and overall experience. Use this feedback to iterate and address any usability issues.
Integrate the educational modules, resources, and emergency support content into the app, ensuring all content is accessible and user-friendly.
Develop and implement the push notification system, including customization options for users, and test it for effectiveness and non-intrusiveness.
Establish a plan for ongoing support, including a feedback loop for continuous improvement, and schedule regular updates to address bugs and introduce new features based on feedback.
ReflectionsReflections and Design Strategy
This project emphasized creating a compassionate, user-centered design for individuals suffering from addiction. We integrated privacy, accessibility, and features like an emergency button and push notifications to support users' recovery. Envisioning a clinician interface ensured seamless integration with healthcare workflows.
The rise of Tech Rx and mHealth highlights the need for thoughtful, compliant, and empathetic design, balancing user needs with clinical requirements.
Working as a team of three UX designers, we leveraged our diverse strengths and collaborated regularly, always referring back to our strategy statement and design guidelines. This ensured a cohesive and comprehensive design, efficiently covering all aspects of the project.