Stress and Well-Being Intervention and mHealth Delivery Adaptation for Latinx Millennial Caregivers: Qualitative User-Centered Design Approach.

Background: This study aimed to adapt a stress and well-being intervention delivered via a mobile health (mHealth) app for Latinx millennial caregivers. This demographic, born between 1981 and 1996, represents a significant portion of caregivers in the United States, with unique challenges due to higher mental distress and poorer physical health than noncaregivers. Latinx millennial caregivers face additional barriers, including higher rates of being uninsured and increased caregiving burdens.

Objective: We used a community-informed and user-centered design approach to tailor an existing mHealth app to better meet the stress and well-being needs of Latinx millennial caregivers.

Methods: We used a 2-step, multifeedback approach. In step 1, Latinx millennial caregivers participated in focus groups to evaluate wireframes for the proposed mHealth app. In step 2, participants engaged in usability testing for 1 week, concluding with short interviews for feedback. Participants were recruited through various channels, including social media and community clinics. Data were analyzed inductively using a rapid qualitative content analysis approach.

Results: A total of 29 caregivers (n=20, 69% women) participated in the study. Participants had a mean age of 31 (SD 4.10) years, with most (n=28, 97%) caring for an adult and 3% (1/29) caring for children with chronic conditions. All participants completed the step 1 focus groups, with a subset of 10% (3/29) of the caregivers completing the usability testing in step 2. The most liked features included (1) the stress rating scale because it helped them understand stress and mental health; (2) the mindfulness options, which allowed for flexible timing of activities; (3) the journaling prompts for addressing daily challenges and positive experiences; and (4) the resource list for its employment and financial content. One concern was that the journaling prompts may take too much time to complete after a long and hard day. Some suggestions for improvement included a better tracking system, gamification, caregiving education, a checklist of emotions to use with the journal, tailored resources, and ways to connect with other caregivers. During step 2, participants noted that the app was user-friendly but had some glitches and unclear privacy policies. Participants liked the meditation options, resource variety, and daily stress log but wanted more journaling space, longer meditations, and additional relaxation activities.

Conclusions: Future iterations should consider integrating more personalized and community-specific resources, leveraging platforms such as podcasts for broader engagement, and the use of information-based videos to support caregiver skill acquisition. Caregivers expressed needs beyond the scope of the app, such as resource access, demonstrating the need for upstream and downstream interventions. This study reinforces that user-informed design is an ongoing and iterative process that requires balancing the needs of stakeholders and the feasibility of the recommended adaptations.