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Persuasive System Design Features for Mobile Mental Health Applications

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Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14636))

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Abstract

Mobile mental health applications show promise and may be suitable for low-resource contexts, however, they remain underutilized. Designing and developing mental health applications that consider users’ preferences and experts’ recommendations and integrate with persuasive design principles may increase uptake. However, research in the field is scarce in low-income contexts including Ethiopia.

Our research involved five main steps. First, we performed a literature review to identify existing evidence and recommendations. We adapted 15 app features from the existing literature. Second, we conducted two rounds of a modified Delphi study with 21 experts in the first and 16 in the second rounds to reach a consensus on the 15 adapted key app features. Third, we surveyed 419 individuals in Ethiopia with mental disorders to understand their needs and preferences for the adapted app features. Fourth, we integrated persuasive system design principles into the adapted app features. Fifth, we collaborated with experts to code the application content and finalize the prototype. The next step will be the development of the app in the Ethiopian official language, and usability testing of the application.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Yonas Deressa Guracho, Susan J. Thomas, Nawaf Almutairi & Khin Than Win

  2. College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Yonas Deressa Guracho

  3. Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Nawaf Almutairi

Authors
  1. Yonas Deressa Guracho
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  2. Susan J. Thomas
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  3. Nawaf Almutairi
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  4. Khin Than Win
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yonas Deressa Guracho .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia

    Nilufar Baghaei

  2. Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar

    Raian Ali

  3. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Khin Win

  4. York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kiemute Oyibo

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The authors have no competing interest in the submitted paper. We, all the authors, fully agree to submit to the 19th International Conference on Persuasive Technology 2024 and Publication.

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Guracho, Y.D., Thomas, S.J., Almutairi, N., Win, K. (2024). Persuasive System Design Features for Mobile Mental Health Applications. In: Baghaei, N., Ali, R., Win, K., Oyibo, K. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14636. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58226-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58226-4_10

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-58226-4

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