Engaging Diverse Community Partners with Lived Experience using Human-Centered Design Principles to Develop Tailored Alcohol Interventions and Assessments
3 - (SYM 7) Using Human Centered Design Methods to Understand the Experiential Process of Providing Online Peer Recovery Support for Alcohol-related Problems
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Abstract Body Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, people experiencing alcohol-related problems increasingly used online peer forums (e.g., social media groups) to obtain support in reducing or stopping alcohol use. Based on theoretical and empirical work, online support falls into four broad categories of: Instrumental (e.g., tangible goods or services), Informational (e.g., knowledge sharing), Appraisal (e.g., normative feedback), and Emotional (e.g., empathy and encouragement). We also understand that “it is better to give than to receive” online support, to foster connection and commitment to peers, and to establish social identities related to addiction recovery. However, little is known about the experiential process of providing different types of support in this setting, which may have a bearing on social satisfaction and downstream benefits derived from the process. In a study scheduled for the summer of 2024, we will recruit active users of popular alcohol support forums on the Reddit social media platform. Using Human Centered Design (HCD) methods within virtual focus groups, we will collaboratively investigate the attitudes, emotions, and intentions of individuals providing support across four complex scenarios related to alcohol use and cessation (e.g., managing cravings, experiencing emotional volatility, social alienation, getting arrested). Participants will work independently to develop supportive responses to mocked up scenarios and note their internal processes (e.g., how they felt before and after submitting responses). As a group, participants will engage in an HCD concept mapping exercise to organize responses, compare similarities and differences among them, and to identify concepts that extend the conceptual map beyond the four broadly theorized types of support. Reflecting on cognitive and emotional processes, participants will discuss the perceived benefits, risks, and considerations for providing different types of online support for alcohol-related recovery. Concept maps and qualitative feedback will be used to develop a self-report measure of online support and to guide the development of a novel behavioral intervention for online forum users. The benefits and challenges of using these HCD methods in addiction recovery populations will be discussed. The talk will conclude with suggestions for integrating HCD methods and individuals’ lived experiences in recovery into a broader portfolio of addiction recovery research.
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