Purpose: The purpose of this study was to
assess the readability and usability of an online HELP (Health, Education, and
Legal Program) intervention for women experiencing IPV (Intimate Partner
Violence) by asking graduate nursing students to review in class nine online
HELP intervention modules. Design: A descriptive online survey administered to
15 graduate nursing students was used to assess the readability and usability
of an online HELP intervention. Methods: Participants were asked to perform the
following activities: 1) reading the nine HELP modules on PowerPoint
as posted on Blackboard (a web-based course management program), 2) filling in
five blank lines under each heading (HEALTH, EDUCATION, LEGAL, and PROGRAM), by
writing words or terms on the line after each heading, 3) ranking the words
within each heading (with #1 as the highest and #5 as the lowest), 4) engaging
in a class discussion of the rationale for the ranking, 5) re-ranking, and 6)
voting on the ranking. The results were compiled to yield a master rank and vote
order for each heading between 12 (received 12 votes) and 15 (received 15
votes) of the words that were ranked #1. Results: The words that were ranked #1
under each heading and the number of votes received were: Under HEALTH:
Depression (15), Anger (14), Anxiety (13), and Pain (12); EDUCATION: Safety
(15), Injury (14), Social Support (13) and Parenting/Child Care (12); LEGAL: Protection from Abuse
(15), Attorney (14), Court/Hearing (13), and Rights (12); PROGRAM: Internet (15), Online
(14), Intervention (13) and Resources (12). Conclusions: HELP intervention is
readable and usable however, HELP needs to be piloted to ensure that survivors
of IPV participants can access and benefit from HELP
intervention.