Speeding up usability testing: a quick guide to rapid analysis for intervention development

Usability testing is a critical component of intervention development but is often perceived as time-consuming. To address this challenge, efficient and time-saving methods are essential. In the Opening Up project, we developed a decision aid to support individuals in deciding whether to discuss their mental health issues in an academic setting. After the initial development phase, we applied rapid analysis to process usability testing findings and reduce the time needed to identify and address usability issues. This approach provided quick insights into usability problems and strengths while maintaining the quality of findings. In this article, we describe the rapid analysis method, provide a quick guide for applying it in intervention development, and reflect on its utility.