The self-help app My Grief: Bereaved parents' experiences of helpfulness, satisfaction and usability

• Published in: Internet interventions : the application of information technology in mental and behavioural health 2024-03, Vol.35, p.100712, Article 100712
• Main Authors: Eklund, Rakel, Eisma, Maarten C., Boelen, Paul A., Arnberg, Filip K., Sveen, Josefin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bereavement; mHealth; Prolonged grief; Randomized controlled trial; Review; User experience
• ISSN: 2214-7829; 2214-7829
• DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2024.100712

Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been shown to be useful to monitor and reduce mental health problems across a variety of stress-related and affective disorders, yet research on the value of apps for prolonged grief is scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to elucidate bereaved parents' experiences of using the self-help app My Grief with a focus on helpfulness, satisfaction, and usability. Data were derived from closed-ended and open-ended questions administered at the 3-month post-assessment of the intervention group (n = 67) within a randomized controlled trial testing the effects of access to the My Grief app. The sample consisted of 88 % women, with a mean age of 47 years, who predominantly lost their child to cancer (41 %), on average 4.8 years ago. Participating parents indicated that the My Grief app helped them increase their knowledge about prolonged grief and track their grief over time. The app was experienced as easy to navigate and around half of the parents used the app more than one day a week. Almost all parents were satisfied with the app and would recommend it to other parents in similar situations. The findings add to the knowledge base justifying mHealth within support systems for bereaved adults. •My Grief is the first self-help app developed and tested for prolonged grief.•Parents reported that the app increased knowledge about grief and prolonged grief.•My Grief app was experienced as easy to navigate in.•Parents would recommend the My Grief app to other parents in similar situations.•Parents reported being satisfied with the app, that it was useful and helped them.