Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Information and Systems Sciences, NSBM Green University, Homagama, Sri Lanka.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 27;23(1):566. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15480-7.
Digital stress management interventions are considered promising additions to the spectrum of the programs companies use to support the well-being of their employees. However, a series of constraints are identified that hinder the potential benefits of such interventions. These constraints include a lack of user engagement and personalisation, poor adherence and high attrition. Understanding the specific user needs and requirements is essential to increase the likelihood of success in implementing ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-supported stress management interventions. Thus, following the findings from a previous quantitative study, the proposed study aimed to further explore the user needs and requirements for designing digital stress management interventions for software employees in Sri Lanka.
The study used a qualitative approach based on three focus groups with 22 software employees in Sri Lanka. The focus group discussions were conducted online and recorded digitally. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ)-32 items were followed for reporting this study.
The analysis revealed three major themes: self-help in a personal space, social support in a collaborative space, and general design considerations for achieving success. The first theme revealed the users' preference for having a personal space where they could engage in individual activities without support from an external party. The second theme elaborated on the importance of adding a collaborative platform to seek help from peers and professionals. The final theme explored the user-desired design features that could increase user engagement and adherence.
This study used a qualitative approach to further explore the findings of a previous quantitative study. The focus group discussions confirmed the results of the previous study and provided the opportunity to better understand user needs and yield new insights. Such insights revealed user preference for embedding personal and collaborative platforms in a single intervention, embedding gamified elements, the provision of passive content generation via sensory systems, and the need for personalisation. These empirical findings will feed into the design of ICT-supported interventions for occupational stress management among Sri Lankan software employees.
数字压力管理干预措施被认为是公司用来支持员工福祉的方案中很有前景的补充措施。然而，一系列的限制因素被确定下来，这些限制因素阻碍了这些干预措施的潜在益处。这些限制因素包括缺乏用户参与和个性化、坚持度差和高流失率。了解特定的用户需求和要求对于提高实施基于信息和通信技术（ICT）的压力管理干预措施的成功可能性至关重要。因此，在先前一项定量研究的结果基础上，本研究旨在进一步探讨为斯里兰卡软件员工设计数字压力管理干预措施的用户需求和要求。
该研究采用基于斯里兰卡 22 名软件员工的三个焦点小组的定性方法。焦点小组讨论在线进行并以数字方式记录。使用归纳主题分析来分析收集的数据。本研究遵循了定性研究报告的统一标准（COREQ）-32 项来报告这项研究。
分析揭示了三个主要主题：个人空间中的自助、协作空间中的社会支持，以及取得成功的一般设计考虑因素。第一个主题揭示了用户在个人空间中进行个人活动而无需外部支持的偏好。第二个主题详细阐述了添加协作平台以寻求同行和专业人士帮助的重要性。最后一个主题探讨了用户期望的设计功能，这些功能可以提高用户参与度和坚持度。
本研究使用定性方法进一步探讨了先前一项定量研究的结果。焦点小组讨论证实了先前研究的结果，并提供了更好地了解用户需求和产生新见解的机会。这些见解揭示了用户在单个干预措施中嵌入个人和协作平台、嵌入游戏化元素、通过感官系统提供被动内容生成以及个性化需求的偏好。这些实证发现将为斯里兰卡软件员工的职业压力管理中的基于 ICT 的干预措施设计提供依据。
