Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement
Maintaining user engagement with mobile health (mHealth) apps can be a challenge. Previously, we developed a conceptual model to optimize patient engagement in mHealth apps by incorporating multiple evidence-based methods, including increasing health literacy, enhancing technical competen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Interactive Journal of Medical Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.i-jmr.org/2024/1/e51974 |
| _version_ | 1797243563244781568 |
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| author | Rebecca Monachelli Sharon Watkins Davis Allison Barnard Michelle Longmire John P Docherty Ingrid Oakley-Girvan |
| author_facet | Rebecca Monachelli Sharon Watkins Davis Allison Barnard Michelle Longmire John P Docherty Ingrid Oakley-Girvan |
| author_sort | Rebecca Monachelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Maintaining user engagement with mobile health (mHealth) apps can be a challenge. Previously, we developed a conceptual model to optimize patient engagement in mHealth apps by incorporating multiple evidence-based methods, including increasing health literacy, enhancing technical competence, and improving feelings about participation in clinical trials. This viewpoint aims to report on a series of exploratory mini-experiments demonstrating the feasibility of testing our previously published engagement conceptual model. We collected data from 6 participants using an app that showed a series of educational videos and obtained additional data via questionnaires to illustrate and pilot the approach. The videos addressed 3 elements shown to relate to engagement in health care app use: increasing health literacy, enhancing technical competence, and improving positive feelings about participation in clinical trials. We measured changes in participants’ knowledge and feelings, collected feedback on the videos and content, made revisions based on this feedback, and conducted participant reassessments. The findings support the feasibility of an iterative approach to creating and refining engagement enhancements in mHealth apps. Systematically identifying the key evidence-based elements intended to be included in an app’s design and then systematically testing the implantation of each element separately until a satisfactory level of positive impact is achieved is feasible and should be incorporated into standard app design. While mHealth apps have shown promise, participants are more likely to drop out than to be retained. This viewpoint highlights the potential for mHealth researchers to test and refine mHealth apps using approaches to better engage users. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:57:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ef4eb79c98848c4ae66a45d05a239b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1929-073X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:57:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Interactive Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ef4eb79c98848c4ae66a45d05a239b82024-03-26T14:45:31ZengJMIR PublicationsInteractive Journal of Medical Research1929-073X2024-03-0113e5197410.2196/51974Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User EngagementRebecca Monachellihttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-9234-866XSharon Watkins Davishttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6290-5196Allison Barnardhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-9630-7173Michelle Longmirehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2717-4900John P Dochertyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7400-8326Ingrid Oakley-Girvanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0328-921X Maintaining user engagement with mobile health (mHealth) apps can be a challenge. Previously, we developed a conceptual model to optimize patient engagement in mHealth apps by incorporating multiple evidence-based methods, including increasing health literacy, enhancing technical competence, and improving feelings about participation in clinical trials. This viewpoint aims to report on a series of exploratory mini-experiments demonstrating the feasibility of testing our previously published engagement conceptual model. We collected data from 6 participants using an app that showed a series of educational videos and obtained additional data via questionnaires to illustrate and pilot the approach. The videos addressed 3 elements shown to relate to engagement in health care app use: increasing health literacy, enhancing technical competence, and improving positive feelings about participation in clinical trials. We measured changes in participants’ knowledge and feelings, collected feedback on the videos and content, made revisions based on this feedback, and conducted participant reassessments. The findings support the feasibility of an iterative approach to creating and refining engagement enhancements in mHealth apps. Systematically identifying the key evidence-based elements intended to be included in an app’s design and then systematically testing the implantation of each element separately until a satisfactory level of positive impact is achieved is feasible and should be incorporated into standard app design. While mHealth apps have shown promise, participants are more likely to drop out than to be retained. This viewpoint highlights the potential for mHealth researchers to test and refine mHealth apps using approaches to better engage users.https://www.i-jmr.org/2024/1/e51974 |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Monachelli Sharon Watkins Davis Allison Barnard Michelle Longmire John P Docherty Ingrid Oakley-Girvan Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement Interactive Journal of Medical Research |
| title | Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement |
| title_full | Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement |
| title_fullStr | Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement |
| title_short | Designing mHealth Apps to Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques for Prolonging User Engagement |
| title_sort | designing mhealth apps to incorporate evidence based techniques for prolonging user engagement |
| url | https://www.i-jmr.org/2024/1/e51974 |
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