Year
2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
School of Computing and Information Technology
Abstract
The integration of persuasive technology in healthcare has gained considerable momentum through the proliferation of mobile health applications (mHealth apps). These apps become instrumental tools for providing tailored health support systems, facilitating informed decision-making, and promoting positive behaviours among users in increasingly persuasive ways. Among the various applications of mHealth apps, breastfeeding apps have emerged as invaluable resources for breastfeeding mothers. These apps can offer interactive information, tailored guidance, and support networks. Thus, incorporating persuasive features within these apps would further enhance their efficiency in promoting and supporting breastfeeding practices. The persuasive systems design (PSD) model represents a conceptual framework that informs persuasive technology design. The PSD model highlights four principles for persuasive system content and functionality and provides valuable insights into the key features that can be employed to design persuasive systems that are efficient and impactful. However, despite the prevalence of persuasive features in various mHealth apps, there is a limited understanding of how the intended users perceive these features. Research has primarily focused on the technical aspects of designing and implementing persuasive software features with limited empirical evidence on users' subjective experiences and perspectives regarding these features.
This thesis comprises five studies, including quantitative and qualitative, that are thoroughly related and successively build upon each other to jointly achieve the central research aim: an in-depth exploration of user perceptions and experiences of persuasive design principles embedded in a mHealth app designed to support breastfeeding.
Recommended Citation
Almohanna, Alaa Ali S., Exploring Persuasive System Design Features and Users’ Perceptions of an mHealth Breastfeeding App: A Mixed-Method Study, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wollongong, 2024. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1/1818
FoR codes (2008)
0806 INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 080702 Health Informatics, 0899 OTHER INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES
Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.