Abstract
Background We previously developed a mobile health (mHealth) app (Roadmap) to promote the resilience
of family caregivers during the acute phases of care in patients undergoing hematopoietic
cell transplantation (HCT).
Objective This study explored users' perspectives on the uptake of Roadmap's multicomponent
features and the app's utility in promoting resilience.
Methods Fifteen participants were randomized to the full version of the app that included
resilience-building activities and the other 15 were randomized to the control version
that included a limited view of the app (i.e., without any resilience-building activities).
They were instructed to use the app for 120 days. Semistructured qualitative interviews
were then conducted with users as part of an ongoing, larger Roadmap study (NCT04094844).
During the interview, caregiver participants were asked about their overall experiences
with the app, frequency of use, features used, facilitators of and barriers to use,
and their perspectives on its utility in promoting resilience. Data were professionally
transcribed, coded, and categorized through content analysis.
Results Interviews were conducted with 30 participants, which included 23 females and 7 males.
The median age of the population was 58 years (range, 23–82). The four main themes
that emerged included app use, ease of use, user experiences, and ability to foster
resilience. The subthemes identified related to facilitators (convenience and not
harmful), barriers (caregiver burden and being too overwhelmed during the acute phases
of HCT care), resilience (optimism/positivity and self-care), and app design improvements
(personalization and notifications/reminders).
Conclusion The qualitative evaluation provided insights into which components were utilized
and how one, or a combination of the multicomponent features, may be enhancing users'
experiences. Lessons learned suggest that the Roadmap app contributed to promoting
resilience during the acute phases of HCT care. Nonetheless, features that provided
enhanced personalization may further improve longer-term engagement.
Keywords
mobile health - mHealth - resilience - psychological - family caregivers - qualitative
- research - transplantation - hematopoietic stem cell
