Usability, satisfaction and ease of use of free apps in Spanish for patients with Bipolar Disorder and most frequent pathologies

Introduction: New technologies are being introduced exponentially in the healthcare world. Currently, the use of apps for the field of Mental Health is growing significantly and several studies indicate that they can become powerful tools in the management of patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD).
Methodology: A bibliographic review of existing apps in the market related to Mental Health was carried out with the objective of selecting those that would help TB patients in the management of their disease, all free and in Spanish. Next, a descriptive study was carried out with a convenience sampling in order to evaluate its usability, satisfaction and ease of use. The analysis population included healthy university students with knowledge of the disease. The evaluation was carried out using the scales Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of use Questionnaire (USE) and Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ). Data were blind-analyzed and with non-parametric tests.
Results: We found 6 apps that meet the study requirements in Apple Store and Google Play download platforms. Up to 30 volunteers tested each app for 7 days, extracting total scores, means and descriptive ratings. Finally, a comparative list was drawn up ordering each application of greater usability, thus being the best “Daily– Monitor de ánimo”. The qualities of those best evaluated were, in particular: speed, clear and intuitive interface and a wide register of moods.
Discussion: Currently several apps have demonstrated scientific evidence of their usefulness and usability, such as “MoodRythm”, “MONARCA”, “SurfMind”, “SIMPLe” or “NYMPHA”. However, they are not yet widely available or have restricted access. Among the free and available apps in Spanish, in our pilot test, healthy volunteers found the “Diary – Monitor del ánimo” app, and “EMoods Bipolar Mood Tracker” useful, satisfactory and easy to use. The field of new technologies applied to Mental Health is an exciting challenge for technology designers and for emerging companies and, of course, for Mental Health professionals.