A Qualitative Exploration of Desired mHealth App Mechanisms Related to Daily Life Influences for College Nursing Students

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile health (mHealth) apps are digital health tools that allow for the delivery and access to vital health information, support, and encouragement needed to foster positive behavior change. Designing and developing mHealth solutions based on daily life influences for nursing students is imperative to establishing healthier physical and mental health habits. Methods: Multiple focus groups (n=10) were conducted, and a questionnaire (n=11) was administered to undergraduate students in the professional nursing component. Themed analysis of focus-group data was conducted along with descriptive analysis of the questionnaire. Results: All participants stated it has been more difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle since beginning the nursing program. This deterioration can be attributed to three key areas: mental health needs/support, rigor of nursing school, and decline in positive health choices. Participants stated they would use an mHealth app designed specifically for nursing students to combat deterioration of their health. Conclusions: The results of this study (100% positive response rate) reveal mHealth applications might be a powerful tool in helping nursing students transform their physical and mental health. It appears that if an mHealth application is created with the specific “must-haves” of nursing students then we might experience a positive shift in health behaviors for nursing students, which will hopefully transcend into their careers as nurses.

Preferences, Acceptability and Usage of Mobile Health Applications Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Multisite, Cross-Sectional Survey

“…A cross-sectional survey conducted among university students in health colleges in Saudi Arabia revealed that students were using mHealth apps for tracking physical activities and counting calorie intake rather than for monitoring chronic health conditions ( Jabour et al, 2021 ). The most requested mobile health applications among nursing students, according to a qualitative investigation of their preferences, are those that can improve their physical and emotional well-being ( Sittig et al, 2022 ). Therefore, it can be concluded that the results of the current study are consistent with earlier research in this field.…”