Development of the “BUU True Friend” Mobile Application: Feasibility and Usability Study for Chronic Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Currently, promoting psychiatric rehabilitation through the integration of technology is of great importance to support the daily lives of chronically psychiatrically ill individuals living in the community. Objective: This research and development (R&D) study aimed to design and develop a prototype health application for promoting psychiatric rehabilitation among individuals with chronic mental illness in the community. Methods: The target population consisted of 40 individuals with chronic psychiatric conditions attending outpatient services at the Psychiatric Clinic, Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, Sriracha District, Chon Buri Province, in July 2025. The research was divided into two phases: 1) application development phase according to the ADDIE Model process; and 2) feasibility and usability testing. Following a 14-day trial on participants’ smartphones, usability and feasibility evaluations were formally completed by both the study participants (patients) and psychiatric clinic nurses to ensure multi-stakeholder feedback. Data collection tools included a personal information questionnaire, a Living Skills Assessment for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, an mHealth App Usability Questionnaire, and Guidelines for evaluating mHealth usability. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, as well as inferential statistics with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The findings revealed that the “BUU True Friend” application was rated highly for application quality by expert evaluators. Application users reported high satisfaction with the application's overall usability. While no statistically significant difference was found in psychiatric rehabilitation skills likely due to the limited 14-day trial, the 100% user retention rate and high satisfaction scores demonstrate the application’s strong feasibility and usability. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the “BUU True Friend” application is a viable prototype for promoting psychiatric rehabilitation among individuals with chronic mental illness in community settings.