Overview of the results from the qualitative analysis of the telephone interviews on participants' experiences of tRAppen presented as categories, subcategories and codes
| Category | Subcategory | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| tRAppen in general | Positive | Fun to use Motivates PA Helps to establish healthy PA routines Nice layout Easy to use Navigation easy A great tool for people recently diagnosed with RA |
| Less satisfactory | Log on difficult Screen too small on a mobile phone Layout and navigation troublesome and difficult to understand Does not add anything to disease management or PA behaviour No fun, only a burden | |
| Feasibility of features | Peer support positive | Technically easy to understand Enjoy peers' postings of PA performances |
| Peer support less satisfactory | Difficult to understand how to use pep button Did not find the feature to talk to one peer only Difficult to know how to upload images | |
| Self-monitoring positive | Goal-setting feature easy to understand and has a clear structure Easy to register performed PA Clear instructions on how to register PA | |
| Self-monitoring less satisfactory | Formulating goals and plans difficult Unclear instructions on how to formulate goals and plans Too little interaction with goals and plans Planning when and how to exercise difficult due to disease variations Changing weekly PA plan troublesome Knowing when to change PA plan unclear Registration of PA not easy to access Registration of PA troublesome Definition of PA is unclear | |
| Feedback positive | Statistics provide clear overview of performances | |
| Feedback less satisfactory | Interpreting feedback on goal achievement difficult Understanding statistics difficult | |
| Features as support for PA | Peer support positive | Seeing peers’ postings of PA performances motivates Seeing peers’ postings of PA performances inspires Seeing peers’ postings of PA performances improves self-efficacy Sharing PA performances with peers is encouraging |
| Peer support less satisfactory | Seeing peers’ performances is not encouraging Does not provide support or encouragement | |
| Self-monitoring positive | Reflection on personal goals is encouraging Registering everyday PA, not only exercise, is encouraging Registering PA motivates performance | |
| Self-monitoring less satisfactory | Seeing personal goals is not encouraging Registration of PA is not encouraging | |
| Feedback positive | Seeing results of performance is encouraging Getting feedback on goal achievement motivates, both when achieving goals or not Ranking of peers according to PA performances is encouraging, especially during active periods | |
| Feedback less satisfactory | Seeing the statistics is not encouraging Getting email on failed goal achievement may be discouraging Ranking of peers according to PA performance may be discouraging | |
| Enjoyment | Peer support positive | Belonging to a heterogeneous community good Belonging to a community gives feeling of fellowship Reading personal comments fun Seeing images nice |
| Peer support less satisfactory | Non-personal relationships Does not provide feeling of support Seeing peers’ postings during less active periods stressful, tearful and difficult Seeing that peers are more active than me gives feeling of disloyalty Seeing peers’ performances makes you exercise more than what is healthy for you Seeing that peers are inactive is not fun | |
| Self-monitoring positive | Reflecting on personal goals and weekly plans beneficial and good Getting reminders to make weekly plan great Registering PA important in itself Follow-up results great | |
| Self-monitoring less satisfactory | Weekly PA planning stressful Not fulfilling weekly plan makes me angry and gives feeling of defeat Registering PA is boring The registration becomes a mishmash | |
| Feedback positive | Watching statistics screen is fun and nice, especially during active periods Getting email notifications on peers’ performances is fun Receiving instructions on how to review personal goals is helpful Receiving feedback on goal achievement is important and good To be high on the peer ranking list is fun and great | |
| Feedback less satisfactory | Getting emails on goal achievement is deprecatory and unnecessary Weekly updates too artificial and brisk Seeing statistics is meaningless, especially during periods with less PA Seeing peers’ ranking is frustrating and joyless if less physically active | |
| Ideas for improvements | General | Develop a web service to manage healthy living, including PA, diet and disease management Provide information for inspiration; weekly tips Use more colours Provide choice to use individually or in a community Provide option for healthcare provider to access my tRAppen data Provide longer face-to-face introduction with all peers Create communities according to different parameters or within already-existing communities Provide information about tRAppen at the patient organisation and healthcare facilities |
| Peer support | Include interactive meetings on the web Include face-to-face meetings Include a personal profile to provide more information on peers on tRAppen | |
| Self-monitoring | Include more coaching in goal setting Provide reminders on planned activities Provide reminders when many days have passed since the last registration Provide a calendar to mark the days of planned PA Provide a menu to choose types of PA Design simpler PA registration: only register when PA has been performed Provide encouragements to review goals and plans | |
| Feedback | Include pop-up messages instead of email notifications Provide more personalised and honest feedback Provide easier access to the PA log Include automatic measure of energy expenditure Delete the ranking of peers and competition between communities Include a handicap system for a more equal ranking Display the relationship between performed PA and health | |
| Additional factors important for the utilisation and experience | Project set-up | Insufficient test period decreased possibility to acquaint oneself with tRAppen Participating in introductory meeting improved interaction between peers |
| Personal experiences and life situation | Being accustomed to ‘new’ technology and social media enhanced use of tRAppen Already having exercise routines decreased need for tRAppen Already using other PA apps decreased need for tRAppen Flares or comorbidity decreased utilisation of tRAppen Retirement pension or sick leave increased utilisation of tRAppen Children living at home reduced time spent utilising tRAppen Owning a dog facilitated PA and utilisation of tRAppen Not identifying yourself with RA makes tRAppen less valuable |
PA, physical activity; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.