Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Institute for Health Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Mar 7;7(3):e10750. doi: 10.2196/10750.
High smoking rates among end-users, combined with their high rates of app use, render this age group as a particularly captive audience for quit smoking apps. There is emerging evidence that apps are an effective way to support smoking cessation among end-users. How the expectations behind the design of apps align with the needs and preferences of end-users, and if this differs by gender, is poorly understood, limiting the ability to evaluate and scale these interventions.
The objective of this qualitative case study was to detail how the overall design approach of Crush the Crave (CTC), a quit smoking app that targets end-users, compares with young adult women's and men's perspectives and experiences, with consideration for the influence of gender.
Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 developers involved in the development of CTC and 31 young adult CTC users. Data were analyzed inductively to derive thematic findings of the perceived pros and cons of CTC by both developers and end-users. Findings were grouped under 4 categories (1) technology and platforms utilized for the app, (2) foundation of app content, (3) underlying focus of the app, and (4) look, feel and functionality of the app.
Under the category, technology and platforms utilized for the app, it was found that both developers and end-users agreed that apps aligned with the needs and preferences of young adult smokers. Major limitations with the technology identified by end-users were the frequent "glitches" and requirement for internet or data. For the category, foundation of app content,developers agreed that the strength of CTC was in its strong evidence-base. What mattered to end-users, however, was that the content was packaged positively, focusing on the benefits of quitting versus the consequences of smoking. It was found under the category, underlying focus of the app, that the individually-led focus of the app resonated with both developers and end-users, especially young men. Under the final category, look, feel and functionality of the app, it was found that developers were very positive about the app's aesthetics but end-users thought that the aesthetics incited a negative effect. Also, while end-users found it easy to use, they did not find the app intuitive. Finally, end-users thought that, because the app functions were largely based on a user's quit date versus their ongoing efforts, this often lent to unmeaningful data.
The current study findings highlight the importance of understanding multiple perspectives of stakeholders involved in a mobile-based intervention. By gathering the viewpoints of developers and end-users, both problematic and effective approaches that underlie development goals were revealed as a means of informing the development, implementation, and evaluation of future electronic health (eHealth) interventions.
最终用户的高吸烟率，加上他们高频率地使用应用程序，使这个年龄段的人成为戒烟应用程序的特别目标受众。有新的证据表明，应用程序是支持最终用户戒烟的有效方法。应用程序设计背后的期望如何与最终用户的需求和偏好保持一致，以及这种期望是否因性别而异，这一点还了解甚少，这限制了对这些干预措施进行评估和扩展的能力。
本定性案例研究的目的是详细说明 Crush the Crave（CTC）的总体设计方法如何与年轻成年女性和男性的观点和体验相契合，同时考虑到性别的影响。CTC 是一款针对最终用户的戒烟应用程序。
对参与 CTC 开发的 15 名开发者和 31 名年轻成年 CTC 用户进行了半结构化访谈。对数据进行了归纳分析，得出了开发者和最终用户对 CTC 的优缺点的看法。研究结果分为 4 类：（1）应用程序使用的技术和平台；（2）应用程序内容的基础；（3）应用程序的基本重点；（4）应用程序的外观、感觉和功能。
在应用程序使用的技术和平台类别中，开发者和最终用户都认为应用程序符合年轻成年吸烟者的需求和偏好。最终用户识别出的技术主要局限是经常出现“故障”，并且需要互联网或数据。在应用程序内容基础类别中，开发者一致认为 CTC 的优势在于其强大的循证基础。然而，对最终用户来说重要的是，内容是积极包装的，重点是戒烟的好处，而不是吸烟的后果。在应用程序的基本重点类别中，研究发现，应用程序的个体化重点与开发者和最终用户产生了共鸣，尤其是年轻男性。在应用程序的外观、感觉和功能类别中，研究发现开发者对应用程序的美学非常满意，但最终用户认为美学产生了负面影响。此外，虽然最终用户认为应用程序易于使用，但他们认为应用程序没有直观性。最终用户认为，由于应用程序的功能主要基于用户的戒烟日期，而不是他们的持续努力，这往往导致数据没有意义。
本研究结果强调了理解移动干预措施所涉及的利益相关者的多种观点的重要性。通过收集开发者和最终用户的观点，揭示了开发目标背后的问题和有效方法，这是为了为未来的电子健康（eHealth）干预措施的开发、实施和评估提供信息。
