Overview of the Heart&Stroke Healthy Weight Action Plan; Lessons Learned from Developing this online tool, and early evaluation learning.

1. My Healthy Weight Action PlanLessons Learned November , 2010

3. User data and feedback5. Enhancements

5. Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment

13. Weekly Lessons

15. 12 Lessons Monitoring Goal setting Tracking Overcoming challenges Rewards Setbacks Support system Behaviour contract Time management Stress Plateaus Maintaining/new beginning

17. Recommended caloric intake, number of servings

18. Learn to set goals

19. Personalized recommendations re what to work on

31. Tool Sections and Features

48. Contract negotiation

51. simple counters & assessments or

52. tools that inundate with features and gadgets

53. none theory based; no structureNothing suitable to buy ->Developed recommended practices ->Decision to proceed

54. If I were to do it again…. Would stipulate at lit search RFP stage, that if we proceed to build, the author of the lit search cannot take a lead role (researchers have vested interested) 2. Would challenge conclusions a bit more.

57. Qualifications of the vendor- 30%

58. Quality, clarity and responsiveness of proposal – 10%

59. Financial stability of vendor – 5%

60. Cost quotation and IP needs – 20%Contract: Did not give one vendor full budget including design and programming (ie. have them subcontract) due to concerns regarding contract size. Vision: Product design vendor would lead the selection of design and programming vendors, and HSFO would hold the contract.

62. Decision of this size not be made by one person or one department,

66. Vendor perceived IP rights where we thought there was none

68. Be aware of Universities drive for IP ownership

70. December: Handing off to Design Vendor Graphic and interface design: December-January 2008 Full detail (architecture and specs) not outlined or tested at time graphic and interface design was developed

72. Architecture and navigation needs simplification

76. Too overwhelms and drags down morale

79. Only 38% of users to landing page proceeded to RA

80. 64% or users finishing RA we on to register for HWAP

82. Participation over time

83. Lesson Feedback- “How did you find the lesson?” Majority responded positively suggesting the contents of the lesson itself are positive. Negative feedback fell into several categories Nothing new/expected more: (25%) Concerning motivation (e.g., “didn’t do it, as not inspired,” “it doesn’t keep me motivated”): (15%) Navigation or technical issues: (14%) Program did not meet needs/unmet need: (10%) Negative comments (e.g., “boring”, “didn’t work”, “too short,” “): (8%) Weight management is a personal responsibility : (5%)

87. The food tracker made users feel discouraged (too many frowns)

88. The benefits of making healthier choices (“feeling happy and energetic”)

89. Frustration that “doing good” does not necessarily translate to the scale

90. Description of challenges to making healthier choices

91. Recognition of the problems of emotional eating

93. Poor understanding of what constituted a SMART goal or what was meant by a “task.”

94. Did not use the goal system as intended (either due to confusion or choice)

96. Improve execution and communication of the program “Point of Difference”. 2. The use of the counselor (in its execution) has caused usability issues. The reason for the presence of the counselor is unclear, and her lack of identity makes her presence and lesson language uncomfortable, phony and cumbersome. Static execution of the counselor is not consistent with internet trends/capabilities Recommendation: Remove the counselor from the site entirely.

97. Usability Evaluation 3. The linear format of lessons does not translate well to the web. The general premise of the HW Plan, which directs users through twelve distinct online lessons in sequence, does not work well. Users are forced through content that is not interesting or relevant to them, and must make a decision: continue forward, waiting for later content up that does look interesting, or leave the site, to find more interesting content elsewhere. Recommendation: Remove the rigid approach of twelve linear sessions that restrict the user from key concepts that may be helpful at the outset. 4. Nothing is done to encourage the user to return on a weekly basis. Although users are told they should return to the site weekly, nothing is done to promote this behaviour. Recommendation: If the metaphor of twelve sessions is kept, design techniques for getting users to return to the site, e.g. a reminder email once a week.

98. Usability Evaluation 5. Navigating around the site is difficult. The structure of the site is confusing. Several items can be found in multiple areas of the site. Because concepts are spread out over so many pages of the site, it can be difficult to remember where to find something. The labels used in the navigation do not help. Recommendation: Revisit the information architecture of the site. Keep concepts like “goals” in specific sections, rather than having them spread out over a number of pages Assess whether labels are sufficiently intuitive. 6. There is no way to communicate with other participants of the site. Today, the internet is all about communication. In the world of “Web 2.0”, site visitors are used to creating their own content, and interacting with others. By not giving program participants any way to communicate with each other, sharing challenges, successes and tips, the site is missing out on a great opportunity. Recommendation: Build increased social networking opportunities into the program.

99. Usability Evaluation 9. Line lengths are extremely long, making text harder to read. In typography, the optimal length of a line of text is 66 characters Recommendation: In redesign, ensure line length is consistent with usability best practices.

103. Team of 2 Canadian RD’s; reviewed by HSF RD

104. PA content reviewed by:

105. a certified personal trainer with experience in community recreation,

106. a volunteer with post grad in Kinesiology

107. Content experts:

108. Review by CBT and Obesity Expert

109. Product design consultation provided by consultant with expertise in e intervention design and research

110. Existing Canadian guidelines and available research

111. Expert Advisory Group: High level advice;