Exploring User Experiences With the Lift App for Emotional Well-Being Among Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health interventions
• Adolescent and young adult well-being
• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management

Background:

• Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face increased psychological distress.
• Limited scalable support services exist for young people with T1D.
• Digital mental health interventions are crucial for diabetes care innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore qualitative feedback on the "Lift: Thriving with Diabetes" (Lift) well-being app.
• Assess user experiences with the Lift app among adolescents and young adults with T1D.
• Evaluate the app's engagement, functionality, and impact on well-being and coping.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 13 participants (9 adolescents/young adults, 4 support people).
• Virtual focus groups and 1-on-1 interviews were conducted.
• Directed content analysis guided by the Mobile Application Rating Scale framework.

Main Results:

• Participants found the Lift app engaging, user-friendly, and emotionally impactful.
• Positive feedback focused on interactive features (e.g., well-being tree) and calming aesthetics.
• Areas for improvement included content pacing, personalization, integration with other tools, and gamification.

Conclusions:

• User-driven digital tools can enhance well-being and connection for young people with T1D.
• Insights from the Lift app can refine digital health interventions.
• Tailored content and sustained engagement are key for long-term impact.