Smart Glass-Based Exposure Therapy Of Anxiety Disorders: Evaluation Of Usability And Acceptance

Background: Despite the proven effectiveness of exposure-based methods in anxiety disorders, they are rarely used straightforwardly in outpatient cognitive behavioral therapeutic practice. Planning and organization efforts, as well as expenditure of time, are seen as typical obstacles. The present study aimed at evaluating usability, user experience, and user acceptance of a systematic approach for Smart Glass-based exposure therapy. Methods: Within a standardized laboratory examination, 39 subjects with symptoms of spider phobia as well as 16 therapists evaluated usability, user experience, and user acceptance. For this purpose, established self-report scales were used as well as comparisons with norm samples and adjective rankings. Results: Ninety-two percent of subjects were capable to familiarize themselves with the system as well as to acknowledge and follow the therapeutic instructions. Usability was assessed as "OK." Concerning the user experience, conservative calculations revealed below-average evaluations of the task-oriented factors perspicuity, efficiency, and dependability. Evaluations of the hedonic aspects stimulation and novelty were "good" to "excellent." User acceptance was rated as average. The informed recruited therapists showed higher evaluations of all variables. Conclusions: We found sufficient usability, a heterogeneous user experience, and satisfactory user acceptance. Therefore, Smart Glass-based exposure therapy provides a promising alternative for implementation of in vivo exposure. Nevertheless, specific usability problems have to be solved and questions concerning ethical considerations and data protection to be answered. (c) 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel