Design and develop I-HEAL MetS platform to enhance self-management of metabolic syndrome among adults living in urban slums

Abstract Background Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is an emerging public health concern in low-resource settings, such as urban slums, driven by rapid urbanization and associated challenges. Despite the identified potential of digital health technologies, their use among these populations is yet to be explored. The existing gaps can be well addressed by using a Human-centered design (HCD), which offers a promising approach in developing digital health interventions. This study aims to describe the design, development, and usability evaluation of “Interactive Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle for self-management of Metabolic Syndrome (I-HEAL MetS)” for individuals living in urban slums of Delhi, India. This study was conducted between December 2023 and September 2024 in the urban slum of Delhi, India. The design and development of the I-HEAL MetS digital platform utilized a human-centered design. The assessments for platform usability and feasibility were conducted based on Nielsen's heuristic evaluation, System Usability Scale, and task assessment methods with 80 participants. Statistical analyses were conducted following SPSS version 22.0. Results The I-HEAL MetS platform comprised of modules on healthy diet, physical activity, healthy mind, and self-management, and showed high usability with a mean SUS score of 82 (SD = 17). Heuristic analysis covered mostly minor (43%) and major (33%) issues, while no issues were catastrophic. Task analysis further showed excellent user performance, with over 80% of users successfully completing major tasks like registration, BMI calculation, and module navigation on their first attempt, suggesting that the platform would be easy to use and would assist in MetS self-management. Conclusions The I-HEAL MetS platform demonstrated high usability and acceptance among urban slum population with limited digital literacy. Additionally, its user-centered, contextually relevant design offered a promising framework for self-management of chronic non-communicable diseases.