“一个了解自己的好工具”：一项关于欧洲用户对应用程序支持的月经跟踪体验的定性研究。
"A good little tool to get to know yourself a bit better": a qualitative study on users' experiences of app-supported menstrual tracking in Europe.
机构信息
Institute of Women's and Gender Studies, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
出版信息
BMC Public Health. 2019 Sep 3;19(1):1213. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7549-8.
BACKGROUND
Menstrual apps facilitate observation and analysis of menstrual cycles and associated factors through the collection and interpretation of data entered by users. As a subgroup of health-related apps, menstrual apps form part of one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing developments in biomedicine and health care. However, despite their popularity, qualitative research on how people engaging in period-tracking use and experience these apps remains scarce.
METHODS
Between June 2016 and March 2017, we conducted 26 qualitative interviews with menstrual app users living in Austria and Spain. The participants were asked about their practices and experiences regarding app-supported menstrual tracking. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using the software NVivo.
RESULTS
An inductive content analysis was performed and eight characteristics of app-supported menstrual tracking were identified: 1) tracking menstrual cycle dates and regularities, 2) preparing for upcoming periods, 3) getting to know menstrual cycles and bodies, 4) verifying menstrual experiences and sensations, 5) informing healthcare professionals, 6) tracking health, 7) contraception and seeking pregnancy, and 8) changes in tracking. Our study finds that period-tracking via apps has the potential to be an empowering practice as it helps users to be more aware of their menstrual cycles and health and to gain new knowledge. However, we also show that menstrual tracking can have negative consequences as it leads to distress in some cases, to privacy issues, and the work it requires can result in cessation. Finally, we present practical implications for healthcare providers and app developers.
CONCLUSIONS
This qualitative study gives insight into users' practices and experiences of app-supported menstrual tracking. The results provide information for researchers, health care providers and app designers about the implications of app-supported period-tracking and describe opportunities for patient-doctor interactions as well as for further development of menstrual apps.
背景
月经应用程序通过收集和解释用户输入的数据，促进了对月经周期和相关因素的观察和分析。作为健康相关应用程序的一个子组，月经应用程序是生物医学和医疗保健领域最具活力和发展最快的领域之一。然而，尽管它们很受欢迎，但关于参与经期追踪的人们如何使用和体验这些应用程序的定性研究仍然很少。
方法
在 2016 年 6 月至 2017 年 3 月期间，我们对居住在奥地利和西班牙的月经应用程序用户进行了 26 次定性访谈。参与者被要求介绍他们在应用程序支持的月经跟踪方面的实践和经验。采访进行了录音，逐字转录，并使用 NVivo 软件进行编码。
结果
进行了归纳内容分析，确定了应用程序支持的月经跟踪的 8 个特征：1）跟踪月经周期日期和规律，2）为即将到来的经期做准备，3）了解月经周期和身体，4）验证月经经历和感觉，5）通知医疗保健专业人员，6）跟踪健康，7）避孕和怀孕，8）跟踪方式的变化。我们的研究发现，通过应用程序进行经期追踪有可能成为一种赋权的实践，因为它可以帮助用户更好地了解自己的月经周期和健康状况，并获得新知识。然而，我们也表明，月经追踪可能会产生负面影响，因为它会在某些情况下导致困扰、隐私问题，而且所需的工作可能会导致停止追踪。最后，我们为医疗保健提供者和应用程序开发者提供了实际的建议。
结论
这项定性研究深入了解了用户对应用程序支持的月经追踪的实践和经验。研究结果为研究人员、医疗保健提供者和应用程序设计者提供了关于应用程序支持的经期追踪的影响的信息，并描述了医患互动以及进一步开发月经应用程序的机会。
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