A Chatbot-Based Version of the World Health Organization-Validated Self-Help Plus Intervention for Stress Management:...

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Mobile health (mHealth)
• Behavioral intervention adaptation

Background:

• Technological advancements offer support for vulnerable populations during stressful periods.
• Pregnant women and women with breast cancer face significant physiological and psychological challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and co-design the World Health Organization's Self-Help Plus intervention as a mobile health (mHealth) application.
• To tailor the intervention for pregnant women and women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• Developed low- and high-fidelity prototypes based on established models (Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials, Center for eHealth Research and Disease Management).
• Evaluated prototypes with 13 domain experts and 15 target users.
• Assessed usability, attractiveness, and functionality using semantic differential scales, the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), and semistructured interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants reported positive perceptions regarding ease of use, language appropriateness, and multimedia content.
• Key areas for improvement included enhancing user engagement via reminders, monitoring, and personalization.
• The intervention's content quality and adherence to protocols were positively rated.

Conclusions:

• The study offers insights for improving the usability and effectiveness of mHealth apps for supportive care.
• A chatbot-delivered Self-Help Plus intervention shows promise as a supportive tool for pregnant women and breast cancer patients.
• Further research can enhance the efficacy and engagement of such digital interventions.