Design insights from dementia caregivers and therapists for a therapeutic music app

There are over 6.5 million Americans living with dementia, with as many as 98% experiencing costly neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as apathy and agitation. To address this critical health challenge, SingFit STUDIO–a therapeutic music mHealth app–was developed to increase accessibility to music interventions clinically shown to ameliorate neuropsychiatric symptoms and enhance well-being in persons with dementia (PWD). As part of a multiple-method quality improvement initiative, a series of focus groups were conducted with caregivers and rehabilitation therapists to refine the app’s user experiences and interface (UX/UI) design (n = 26). The focus group participants indicated the importance of a tool to help connect more with their loved one/client to improve quality of life and therapeutic outcomes. Regarding the SingFit platform, they reported that it was very easy to navigate, organized, and the information was relatively easy to understand. However, the participants rated the visual design as neutral, with the need for a more attractive color scheme and motifs. Feedback from the focus groups was analyzed and implemented as appropriate to improve overall user experience and acceptance. Since the conclusion of the focus group discussions, several modifications were made, including the addition of detailed information regarding novel features (e.g., song player) and the improvement in text box colors. In conclusion, this project aimed to incorporate qualitative focus group feedback to improve usability through enhanced user experience.