A Tailored mHealth App for Improving Health and Well-Being Behavioral Transformation in UK Police Workers: Usability...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Occupational Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Police staff roles are expanding, mirroring police officer duties and stresses.
• There's a growing need for technological solutions to support police well-being.
• A UK police force sought technology to enhance officer and staff health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a health and well-being app for police personnel.
• To incorporate unique user requirements throughout the app development lifecycle.
• To design a user-centered digital health solution for law enforcement.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach: quantitative (surveys, System Usability Scale) and qualitative (interviews).
• Unsupervised usability testing of a prototype app with 48 police staff.
• Deductive thematic analysis of user feedback and interview data.

Main Results:

• Usability testing informed app design across six domains: diet, activity, hydration, sleep, mental health, and financial well-being.
• Implemented design improvements included shift management and 'catch-up cards'.
• User feedback guided iterative prototyping and refinement of the app's features.

Conclusions:

• Coparticipation in design is crucial for user-centered health technology.
• A multifunctional app is more effective than single-focus tools for this demographic.
• Linking personalized health data with shift patterns can promote self-reflection and behavior change.