A Unified Framework for Human Centered Design of a Substance Use, Abuse, and Recovery Support System

This research explores the analysis, design, and testing of a software application to support opioid peer specialists working to assist substance users, abusers, those in recovery, and their families. The paper presents a framework integrating best practice approaches from Design Science Research, Community Based Participatory Research, and human centered and user experience design principles for the purpose of: 1) guiding community based, goal-directed software design, and 2) building and evaluating a substance use, abuse, and recovery software application. Focus group findings from 33 participants suggest that using the framework enables alignment between human centered system requirements; personal, family, and community-based program goal achievement; and local/state population health directives. End user feedback indicates that the software application design addresses specific human interaction needs for the complex high-stakes context of opioid use, abuse, and recovery.