JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

User satisfaction provides insights into the user experience of mobile health applications, and exploring it holds significant importance for the improvement and sustainable development of mHealth apps. Analyzing user types and creating user profiles is valuable in understanding differences in user satisfaction. Prior research lacks classification of user types based on health management characteristics, as well as analysis of satisfaction disparities among different types of users.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to identify user types and construct health management profiles for different types of users based on their cognitive and ability characteristics towards health management. Furthermore, it aims to explore the differences in satisfaction among various user types towards the functional design of mHealth apps.

Methods:

Firstly, nine feature indicators were selected based on the Health Belief Model and Behavior Change Theory to assess the cognitive level and ability of mHealth app users towards health management. Prior research was integrated to categorize the functional design of mHealth apps into five categories: health guidance, health education, health monitoring, social features, and gamification. Secondly, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on users' nine health management characteristics and their satisfaction with the five functional designs. A total of 2518 responses were collected, with 1025 included in the analysis. Cluster analysis was used to classify users into different types based on the nine health management characteristics, and health management profiles were constructed for each user type according to the distribution of characteristics within each category. Finally, the Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to analyze the differences in satisfaction among different user categories towards the five functional designs of mHealth apps.

Results:

The cluster analysis revealed that users could be categorized into six types based on the nine health management characteristics: low health management demanders, potential health management demanders, positive intentionals, negative attitude holders, positively active high-capacity users, and negatively active high-capacity users. Significant differences were observed in the health management cognition and ability among the six user types (H(K)>279, P<0.001). The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant variations in user satisfaction with the five functional designs of mHealth apps (H(K)=445.388, P<0.001). Users expressed the highest satisfaction with health monitoring (M=4.00, IQR=1.00) and the lowest with gamification (M=3.00, IQR=1.00). Notably, significant differences in satisfaction towards the five functional designs were observed among different user types. Positive intentionals, positively active high-capacity users, and negatively active high-capacity users demonstrated the highest satisfaction with health education and health guidance (M=4.00). Potential health management demanders, positive intentionals, positively active high-capacity users, and negatively active high-capacity users expressed the highest satisfaction with health monitoring (M=4.00). Positive intentionals reported the highest satisfaction with social features and gamification (M=4.00).

Conclusions:

Users of mHealth apps exhibit diverse types, and significant differences exist in their health management characteristics and satisfaction towards the five functional designs of mHealth apps. This study provides an explanation of differences in user satisfaction with mHealth apps at the individual level, offering crucial insights for the development of personalized mobile health services.