Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study
Choices in the design and delivery of digital health behaviour interventions may have a direct influence on subsequent usage and engagement. Few studies have been able to make direct, detailed comparisons of differences in usage between interventions that are delivered via web or app. This study com...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Internet Interventions |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221478291830006X |
| _version_ | 1819105412932173824 |
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| author | Leanne G. Morrison Adam W.A. Geraghty Scott Lloyd Natalie Goodman Danius T. Michaelides Charlie Hargood Mark Weal Lucy Yardley |
| author_facet | Leanne G. Morrison Adam W.A. Geraghty Scott Lloyd Natalie Goodman Danius T. Michaelides Charlie Hargood Mark Weal Lucy Yardley |
| author_sort | Leanne G. Morrison |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Choices in the design and delivery of digital health behaviour interventions may have a direct influence on subsequent usage and engagement. Few studies have been able to make direct, detailed comparisons of differences in usage between interventions that are delivered via web or app. This study compared the usage of two versions of a digital stress management intervention, one delivered via a website (Healthy Paths) and the other delivered via an app (Healthy Mind). Design modifications were introduced within Healthy Mind to take account of reported differences in how individuals engage with websites compared to apps and mobile phones. Data were collected as part of an observational study nested within a broader exploratory trial of Healthy Mind. Objective usage of Healthy Paths and Healthy Mind were automatically recorded, including frequency and duration of logins, access to specific components within the intervention and order of page/screen visits. Usage was compared for a two week period following initial registration. In total, 381 participants completed the registration process for Healthy Paths (web) and 162 participants completed the registration process for Healthy Mind (app). App users logged in twice as often (Mdn = 2.00) as web users (Mdn = 1.00), U = 13,059.50, p ≤ 0.001, but spent half as much time (Mdn = 5.23 min) on the intervention compared to web users (Mdn = 10.52 min), U = 19,740.00, p ≤ 0.001. Visual exploration of usage patterns over time revealed that a significantly higher proportion of app users (n = 126, 82.35%) accessed both types of support available within the intervention (i.e. awareness and change-focused tools) compared to web users (n = 92, 40.17%), χ2(1, n = 382) = 66.60, p < 0.001. This study suggests that the digital platform used to deliver an intervention (i.e. web versus app) and specific design choices (e.g. navigation, length and volume of content) may be associated with differences in how the intervention content is used. Broad summative usage data (e.g. total time spent on the intervention) may mask important differences in how an intervention is used by different user groups if it is not complemented by more fine-grained analyses of usage patterns over time. Trial registration number: ISRCTN67177737. Keywords: Internet, Mobile applications, Data analysis, Health, Behavioural research, Usage |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:21:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2fb2de6a23aa4a94b33fcdf2c1740070 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:21:51Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Interventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-2fb2de6a23aa4a94b33fcdf2c17400702022-12-21T18:42:06ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292018-06-01127482Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational studyLeanne G. Morrison0Adam W.A. Geraghty1Scott Lloyd2Natalie Goodman3Danius T. Michaelides4Charlie Hargood5Mark Weal6Lucy Yardley7Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social, Human, and Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK; Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UKPrimary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, University Road, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Redcar, Yorkshire, UK; Health and Social Care Institute, School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, UK; Fuse, Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK; Centre for Public Policy and Health, School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University, Stockton on Tees, UKGateshead Council, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UKElectronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UKElectronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UKElectronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UKDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Social, Human, and Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKChoices in the design and delivery of digital health behaviour interventions may have a direct influence on subsequent usage and engagement. Few studies have been able to make direct, detailed comparisons of differences in usage between interventions that are delivered via web or app. This study compared the usage of two versions of a digital stress management intervention, one delivered via a website (Healthy Paths) and the other delivered via an app (Healthy Mind). Design modifications were introduced within Healthy Mind to take account of reported differences in how individuals engage with websites compared to apps and mobile phones. Data were collected as part of an observational study nested within a broader exploratory trial of Healthy Mind. Objective usage of Healthy Paths and Healthy Mind were automatically recorded, including frequency and duration of logins, access to specific components within the intervention and order of page/screen visits. Usage was compared for a two week period following initial registration. In total, 381 participants completed the registration process for Healthy Paths (web) and 162 participants completed the registration process for Healthy Mind (app). App users logged in twice as often (Mdn = 2.00) as web users (Mdn = 1.00), U = 13,059.50, p ≤ 0.001, but spent half as much time (Mdn = 5.23 min) on the intervention compared to web users (Mdn = 10.52 min), U = 19,740.00, p ≤ 0.001. Visual exploration of usage patterns over time revealed that a significantly higher proportion of app users (n = 126, 82.35%) accessed both types of support available within the intervention (i.e. awareness and change-focused tools) compared to web users (n = 92, 40.17%), χ2(1, n = 382) = 66.60, p < 0.001. This study suggests that the digital platform used to deliver an intervention (i.e. web versus app) and specific design choices (e.g. navigation, length and volume of content) may be associated with differences in how the intervention content is used. Broad summative usage data (e.g. total time spent on the intervention) may mask important differences in how an intervention is used by different user groups if it is not complemented by more fine-grained analyses of usage patterns over time. Trial registration number: ISRCTN67177737. Keywords: Internet, Mobile applications, Data analysis, Health, Behavioural research, Usagehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221478291830006X |
| spellingShingle | Leanne G. Morrison Adam W.A. Geraghty Scott Lloyd Natalie Goodman Danius T. Michaelides Charlie Hargood Mark Weal Lucy Yardley Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study Internet Interventions |
| title | Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study |
| title_full | Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study |
| title_fullStr | Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study |
| title_short | Comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention: An observational study |
| title_sort | comparing usage of a web and app stress management intervention an observational study |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221478291830006X |
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