Towards a Virtual Stress Management Coach App: A Co-Design Protocol

Introduction: In today's evolving technological landscape, the use of m-health applications has become an integral aspect of modern life, whether we are simply listening to a relaxation audio or watching a psychoeducational video. However, behind the seamless user interfaces and intuitive functionalities lies a crucial foundation: design. This study explores a user-centric approach1,2 to developing the ALBA chatbot. ALBA is a virtual coach designed to deliver the WHO stress management intervention "Self Help+"3 to enhance the well-being of stress-vulnerable populations, breast cancer patients and pregnant women4,5. Method: The co-design research protocol combines the expertise of communication, psychology, oncology, pregnancy, and usability domain experts with insights from target users. This approach includes an assessment of the usability and acceptability of ALBA through a structured process. Participants provide demographic information, interact with the ALBA app, complete questionnaires (uMARS6 and the Semantic Differential tool7), and participate in brief, semi-structured interviews. Expected results: Thirty-two participants will be recruited. Their feedback will be analyzed and used to refine the ALBA chatbot. This iterative process will fortify the m-health chatbot's usability, acceptability, validity, and trustworthiness, aligning it with the specific needs of the targeted end-users. Conclusion: The importance of design in developing apps cannot be overstated, as it serves as the key to engaging, user-friendly, and impactful digital experiences. Employing a structured design protocol is not just a step but a necessity, as it shapes reliable interventions and scientifically tailors them to the unique requirements of vulnerable populations.