JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Blue Light services, such as police officers and emergency responders, face challenges in managing complex shift patterns and elevated stress levels. Despite these challenges, limited research explores how technology can help manage wellbeing while reducing stress. This paper presents the co-creation of a wellbeing app that integrates shift pattern system to support the work of blue-light forces. Data from interview and focus groups discussions with five participants, including police officers and shift management experts, were analysed using thematic coding. Results show that bulk creation of shifts, flexible start and finish times and manual editing of individual days are vital features for effective work schedule management. The research shows that integrating schedule management into a wellbeing app can deliver personalized health and wellbeing support, such as hydration reminders and relaxation techniques, based on users' specific shift schedules. In the UK, a case study of a home counties police force emphasized the need for user-friendly and privacy-conscious solution tailored to the complexity of Blue Light shift work. As a recommendation, designers, developers, blue light workers, and wellbeing professionals can collaborate to create an effective wellbeing solution that manages schedules and addresses occupational stress and shift-work-related challenges in high-stress occupations like policing.