Prototype of an app designed to support self-management for health behaviors and weight in women living with breast cancer: qualitative user experience study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Accessible self-management interventions are required to support people living with breast cancer.
Objective:
This was an industry-academic partnership study designed that aimed to gather user experience data of a prototype app with built-in peer and coach support designed to support management of health behaviours and weight in women living with breast cancer.
Methods:
Participants were >18 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage within the last 5 years (full inclusion/exclusion in main text). Participants completed demographic surveys then were asked to use the app for four weeks. Following this, they took part in in-depth qualitative interviews about their experiences. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Eight participants (mean age 45 years, 88% white, 75% educated to degree level or above, 75% with stage I-III breast cancer), took part. Four overarching themes were identified; 1) Support for providing an app earlier in the care pathway, 2) Desire for more weight focused content tailored to the breast cancer experience 3) Tracking of health behaviours generally popular and 4) High value of in-app social support.
Conclusions:
This early user experience work found that women with breast cancer found an app with integrated social and psychological support an appealing way to receive support for behaviour change and weight/self-management. However, a number of features were recommended for further development. This work is the first step in an academic-industry collaboration that would ultimately aim to develop and empirically test a supportive app that could be integrated into the cancer care pathway
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