Augmented Momentary Personal Ecological Risk Evaluation (AMPERE)
I provide the AMPERE team ad hoc consultation on utilizing design methods, facilitate reflection when the team transitions between phases of the design process, and occasionally join as a co-facilitator in workshops. My involvement thus far has primarily been in the Discover Phase, as the team conducted research to understand current suicide risk monitoring practices in primary care.
My Role
Design Coach
Timeline of Involvement
November 2023 – October 2024
Design Phase(s) of Involvement
Discover
Overview
AMPERE is developing and piloting an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) suicide risk monitoring system to support primary care suicide risk management. The goal of the project is to develop a suicide risk monitoring system that will improve risk management for young adults experiencing suicidality, their family, and the healthcare team, and to make primary care treatment a more therapeutic experience.
Goals
AMPERE has two main research aims. As a design coach, I’ve assisted the team in selecting appropriate methods for Aim 1 and occasionally helped co-facilitate workshops with participants.
Aim 1: co-design an EMA suicide risk monitoring system that is usable by patients and their provider teams.
Aim 1.1: Iteratively co-design an EMA prototype with patients and providers
Aim 1.2: Develop clinic workflows, training, and support materials for AMPERE implementation.
Aim 2: conduct a feasibility and acceptability pilot of the prototype EMA suicide risk monitoring system to inform its revision and further development: Prospectively enroll primary care clinicians and individuals with suicide risk receiving primary care services to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the prototype system for AMPERE and provide input on revisions to improve its characteristics.
Research Team
Ian Bennett, MD, PhD: Principal Investigator
Amritha Bhat, MBBS, MD, MPH: Co-Investigator
Kevin Hallgren, PhD: Co-Investigator
Brianna Turner, PhD: Co-Investigator
Mindy Vredevoogd, MS: AMPERE Research Project Manager
Dinah Aldrich: AMPERE Program Coordinator
Tess Grover, BA: AMPERE Research Coordinator
Methods
The AMPERE Project is focused on the Discover, Design/Build, and Test Phases of the Discover, Design/Build, & Test Framework (DDBT). My involvement has primarily focused on Discover Phase Activities. These phases will accomplish the Preparation Phase Goals for the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) Framework. You can learn more about how we’ve utilized a DDBT + MOST methodological framework at SCRC here. Learn more about the specific methods we used in the AMPERE project below.
© University of Washington Suicide Care Research Center, DDBT graphic adapted with permission from UW ALACRITY Center
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November 2023 – October 2024
We started by convening seven virtual co-design workshops with clinicians and family of loved ones who have experienced suicidality. Workshops focused on understanding what role a suicide risk monitoring system could play in the treatment experience. I co-facilitated discussions with exercises in Figma to enhance collaboration.
In addition to workshop discussions, we administered four quantitative measures to assess existing risk monitoring workflows: Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and System Usability Scale (SUS). These quantitative metrics were required standard measures for all studies funded by the University of Washington’s Suicide Care Research Center.
Data collected during the Discover Phase activities was synthesized into a set of user needs for a suicide risk monitoring system, as well as a list of usability issues for current risk monitoring practices for adolescents and young adults experiencing suicidality in primary care.
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November 2023 – Present
During the Design/Build Phase, the AMPERE team leveraged journey maps and wireframes to develop low-fidelity prototypes for their EMA tool. They are currently conducting scenario-based usability tests with various anticipated users.
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Eventually, the AMPERE tool will be delivered to adolescent and young adult patients experiencing suicidality. We will assess the effectiveness of the intervention on reducing suicidality using a Type III Hybrid cluster randomized implementation study in a primary care setting.
Results
Results from this study have not yet been published. This section will be updated once results are publicly available.