Users' perceptions of an mHealth service to support healthy lifestyle habits among adult individuals with type 2 diabetes in Sweden – A qualitative study

Abstract Background Healthy lifestyle habits, such as performing physical activity and having healthy eating habits, are cornerstones of primary and secondary prevention of noncommunicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Mobile health (mHealth) services may effectively promote healthy lifestyle habits, but more research focusing on users' perspectives of health-promoting mHealth services is needed to adapt them to user’s needs and preferences. This study aimed to explore perceptions of an mHealth service to support physical activity, healthy eating habits, and mental health among adult individuals with type 2 diabetes. In this qualitative study, individual interviews were conducted with 10 people with type 2 diabetes in Sweden who were using an mHealth service providing digital coaching to support physical activity, healthy eating habits, and mental health for four weeks. Qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Results Six subcategories and two categories were identified in the data. The participants emphasized the importance of an interactive design, including a user-friendly layout, meaningful and varied functions, and a design promoting motivation and goal setting. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of user-centered content, such as a holistic approach, a setting tailored to the user, and diabetes-specific information. These factors were seen as crucial for optimizing support for healthy lifestyle habits and ensuring that the content of the mHealth service effectively reaches users. Conclusion Adult individuals with type 2 diabetes highlighted the importance of an interactive design that incorporates user-centered content in mHealth services to facilitate daily usage and promote behavioral change. This study contributes to the understanding of users' perceptions with mHealth services, which have been confirmed to be important when developing person-centered digital interventions.