User experience of mobile coaching for stress-management to tackle prevalent health complaints

Abstract

In recent years, mobile and web-based solutions for health and wellbeing have become popular. The topic that has been covered the most has been the promotion of physical health, although the importance of mental and social well-being has also been acknowledged recently. Studies have shown that mental health interventions can be successfully designed to be delivered via mobile channels. However, the role of mobile applications in disease prevention and self management of health is not so well understood. The aim of this study is to explore the need for stress-management solutions by studying the prevalence of health complaints in an academic organization (n = 756). It also describes findings from a field study exploring the user experience of a mobile coaching application for stress-management among the three most prevalent complaint groups (n = 30). The findings show that the three most prevalent complaints are tiredness, depression, and neck problems. All of the 13 complaints were more common among women than men, except loneliness and problems in social life. User experience study showed that most participants found the application useful and they would recommend it to other people. Use activity of the mobile coaching application was highest among the tiredness group. The findings are especially useful in the design new solutions for disease prevention and self-management of health.