Health Tracking via Mobile Apps for Depression Self-management: Qualitative Content Analysis of User Reviews

Polhemus, Ashley; Simblett, Sara; Dawe-Lane, Erin; Gilpin, Gina; Elliott, Ben; Jilka, Sagar; Novák, Jan; Nica, Raluca; Temesi, Gergely; Wykes, Til

doi:10.2196/40133

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This finding aligns with how self-tracking is associated with both positive and negative outcomes in mental health treatment. The use of self-tracking apps has been shown to promote self-management (Polhemus, Simblett, et al, 2022) and help identify patterns in tracked data, where the user learns their own health signals and triggers, leading to better management of health issues (or mental health in this case; Almalki et al, 2015; Rickard et al, 2016; Simblett et al, 2019). Furthermore, self-tracking can provide better access or overview of information collected over time, leading to new insights to inform decisions (Almalki et al, 2015; Rickard et al, 2016; Terp et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I was able to share more details”: The experiences of using a smartphone application to support shared decision making in young people with psychosis.

Meyer,

Austin,

Vitger

et al. 2024

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I was able to share more details”: The experiences of using a smartphone application to support shared decision making in young people with psychosis.

Meyer,

Austin,

Vitger

et al. 2024

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

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“…Such apps are gaining in popularity; they allow for greater accessibility to mental health care by being cost-effective and offering an alternative to in-person treatment [24]. Some apps are designed specifically for mental health symptoms, such as depression [25,26] and anxiety [27,28], as well as for specific demographic and occupational populations, such as youth [29,30] and armed forces service workers [31,32]. Although there are mental health apps specifically for PSP (eg, [33]), few scientific evaluations of these apps have been published [34].…”

Section: Mental Health Appsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Views on the Functionality and Use of the PeerConnect App Among Public Safety Personnel: Qualitative Analysis

Foley,

Ricciardelli

2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Research supports that public safety personnel (PSP) are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events and occupational stress, which can compromise their well-being. To help address PSP well-being and mental health, peer support is increasingly being adopted (and developed) in PSP organizations. Peer support apps have been developed to connect the peer and peer supporter anonymously and confidentially, but little is known about their effectiveness, utility, and uptake. Objective We designed this study to evaluate the functionality and use of the PeerConnect app, which is a vehicle for receiving and administering peer support. The app connects peers but also provides information (eg, mental health screening tools, newsfeed) to users; thus, we wanted to understand why PSP adopted or did not adopt the app and the app’s perceived utility. Our intention was to determine if the app served the purpose of connectivity for PSP organizations implementing peer support. Methods A sample of PSP (N=23) participated in an interview about why they used or did not use the app. We first surveyed participants across PSP organizations in Ontario, Canada, and at the end of the survey invited participants to participate in a follow-up interview. Of the 23 PSP interviewed, 16 were PeerConnect users and 7 were nonusers. After transcribing all audio recordings of the interviews, we used an emergent theme approach to analyze themes within and across responses. Results PSP largely viewed PeerConnect positively, with the Connect feature being most popular (this feature facilitated peer support), followed by the Newsfeed and Resources. App users appreciated the convenience of the app and felt the app helped reduce the stigma around peer support use and pressure on peer supporters while raising awareness of wellness. PSP who did not use the app attributed their nonuse to disinterest or uncertainty about the need for a peer support app and the web-based nature of the app. To increase app adoption, participants recommended increased communication and promotion of the app by the services and continued efforts to combat mental health stigma. Conclusions We provide contextual information about a peer support app’s functionality and use. Our findings demonstrate that PSP are open to the use of mental health and peer support apps, but more education is required to reduce mental health stigma. Future research should continue to evaluate peer support apps for PSP to inform their design and ensure they are fulfilling their purpose.

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“…Moreover, Simonson and Rosen [38] have shown that people use and trust reviews as a fundamental feature in their decision-making process. In addition, user reviews have been successfully used by researchers to understand users' experiences with digital technologies [39][40][41], including the contexts of health and well-being [15,[42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. Given this background, we argue that an analysis of user reviews of Natural Cycles can provide an entry point to their experiences with digital contraception.…”

Section: User Reviews As a Source Of User Experience Insightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing User Reviews of the First Digital Contraceptive: Mixed Methods Study

Ciolfi Felice,

Søndergaard,

Balaam

2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background People in Western countries are increasingly rejecting hormone-based birth control and expressing a preference for hormone-free methods. Digital contraceptives have emerged as nonhormonal medical devices that make use of self-tracked data and algorithms to find a user’s fertile window. However, there is little knowledge about how people experience this seemingly new form of contraception, whose failure may result in unwanted pregnancies, high health risks, and life-changing consequences. As digital contraception becomes more widely adopted, examining its user experience is crucial to inform the design of technologies that not only are medically effective but also meet users’ preferences and needs. Objective We examined the user experience offered by Natural Cycles—the first digital contraceptive—through an analysis of app reviews written by its users worldwide. Methods We conducted a mixed methods analysis of 3265 publicly available reviews written in English by users of Natural Cycles on the Google Play Store. We combined computational and human techniques, namely, topic modeling and reflexive thematic analysis. Results For some users of digital contraception, the hormone-free aspect of the experience can be more salient than its digital aspect. Cultivating self-knowledge through the use of the technology can, in turn, feel empowering. Users also pointed to an algorithmic component that allows for increased accuracy over time as long as user diligence is applied. The interactivity of the digital contraceptive supports mutual learning and is experienced as agential and rewarding. Finally, a digital contraceptive can facilitate sharing the burden of contraceptive practices or highlight single-sided responsibilities while creating points of friction in the required daily routines. Conclusions Digital contraception is experienced by users as a tamed natural approach—a natural method contained and regulated by science and technology. This means that users can experience a method based on a digital product as “natural,” which positions digital contraceptives as a suitable option for people looking for evidence-based nonhormonal contraceptive methods. We point to interactivity as core to the user experience and highlight that a digital contraceptive might allow for collaboration between partners around contraceptive practices and responsibilities. We note that the user diligence required for the digital contraceptive to provide accurate and frequent data is sometimes not enough. Future research could look at designing (and redesigning) digital contraceptives with primary users and intimate partners, enhancing the experience of tamed naturalness; exploring how trust fluctuates among involved actors and in interactions with the technology; and, ultimately, designing more inclusive approaches to digital contraception.

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Health Tracking via Mobile Apps for Depression Self-management: Qualitative Content Analysis of User Reviews

Cited by 12 publications

References 57 publications

“I was able to share more details”: The experiences of using a smartphone application to support shared decision making in young people with psychosis.

“I was able to share more details”: The experiences of using a smartphone application to support shared decision making in young people with psychosis.

Views on the Functionality and Use of the PeerConnect App Among Public Safety Personnel: Qualitative Analysis

Analyzing User Reviews of the First Digital Contraceptive: Mixed Methods Study

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