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Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13(05): 1194-1206
DOI: 10.1055/a-1967-8721
Special Section on Patient Engagement

Enhancing Resilience in Family Caregivers Using an mHealth App

Eleanor Smeallie
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
,
Lindsay Rosenthal
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
,
Amanda Johnson
2   Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, United States
,
Chloe Roslin
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
,
Afton L. Hassett
3   Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
,
Sung Won Choi
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by an American Society of Hematology Bridge Grant and National Institute of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant (1R01HL146354) and the Edith S. Briskin and Shirley K Schlafer Foundation (S.W.C.). S.W.C. is supported by grants R01CA249211 and K24HL156896.
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Corrigendum: Enhancing Resilience in Family Caregivers Using an mHealth AppAppl Clin Inform 2022; 13(05): e1-e1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785193

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

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

This study was performed in compliance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects and was approved by the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04094844). The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.


Author Contributions

Conception and design: S.W.C. Administrative support: S.W.C. Provision of study materials or patients: E.S., C.R., S.W.C. Collection and assembly of data: E.S., C.R., L.R., A.J. Data analysis and interpretation: All authors. Manuscript writing: All authors. Final approval of manuscript: All authors.




Publication History

Received: 29 July 2022

Accepted: 19 October 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
25 October 2022

Article published online:
21 December 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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