MedPets

MedPets is an innovative Android application designed to bridge the gap between complex medical data and daily life for patients managing Type 2 Diabetes. By leveraging gamification, the app provides an "edutainment" experience that simplifies essential information regarding medication adherence, food intake, and healthy habit formation. The project specifically targets older adults—a population that may have limited experience with gaming but stands to benefit significantly from accessible, interactive tools that translate dense health concepts into actionable knowledge.

During this semester, the project reached a new milestone through the development of a comprehensive Concept and Feasibility Assessment aimed at securing Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for human testing. This research situated MedPets within the rigorous oversight structure of the University of Texas at Austin’s Human Research Protection Program. I evaluated the project against federal standards from the Human Subjects Research at the University of Texas at Austin, UT Austin’s human subjects research guidelines (IRB Application Guide), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Human Research Protections. The assessment established that the study is a systematic investigation designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge, thereby requiring formal institutional review to ensure ethical standards.

The research methodology prioritizes feasibility testing to evaluate the app’s effectiveness in real-world scenarios while addressing critical ethical considerations. A key focus of this assessment was ensuring accessibility for a diverse user base, including the integration of bilingual support (English and Spanish) to meet the "understandable language" guidelines put forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This stage of the project also involved identifying and mitigating risks such as data privacy and the accuracy of medical information to foster a secure environment for participants.

Moving forward, MedPets is positioned for clinical testing with a functional prototype, and the ongoing research aims to resolve open questions regarding how gamified interactions influence long-term behavioral changes compared to traditional education methods.