Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40153787›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2025

User Experience With a Personalized mHealth Service for Physical Activity Promotion in University Students: Mixed Methods Study.

Silke Wittmar, Tom Frankenstein, Vincent Timm, Peter Frei, Nicolas Kurpiers, Stefan Wölwer, Axel Georg Meender Schäfer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Silke WittmarFaculty of Social Work and Health, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0886-6872
Tom FrankensteinFaculty of Social Work and Health, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0009-0002-8990-8287
Vincent TimmFaculty of Design, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-2451-9397
Peter FreiInstitute for Sport Science, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0009-0004-8958-8548
Nicolas KurpiersInstitute for Sport Science, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3622-5282
Stefan WölwerFaculty of Design, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0009-0001-1337-9254
Axel Georg Meender SchäferFaculty of Social Work and Health, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hildesheim, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4222-1605

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRegular physical activity (PA) is known to offer substantial health benefits, including improved physical fitness, reduced risk of disease, enhanced psychological well-being, and better cognitive performance. Despite these benefits, many university students fail to meet recommended PA levels, risking long-term health consequences.

objectiveThis study evaluated the user experience (UX) of futur.move, a digital intervention aimed at promoting PA among university students. The service delivers personalized, evidence-based content to foster sustained engagement in PA.

methodsA mixed methods approach was used to evaluate the prototype of futur.move. UX assessments included on-site and online user tests, standardized questionnaires, and online focus groups. A total of 142 university students participated, with 23 joining additional focus groups. Each participant tested the service for 30 minutes. Quantitative data were collected using the User Experience Questionnaire and analyzed descriptively, followed by correlation analysis with variables such as PA level, age, gender, and experience with PA apps. Qualitative insights were gathered from transcribed focus group discussions and analyzed using content-structuring, qualitative content analysis. Quantitative findings were cross-validated with qualitative data.

resultsThe UX received positive ratings across 4 User Experience Questionnaire scales (range -3 to +3; higher numbers indicate positive UX): attractiveness (median 1.67, IQR 1.04-2.17), perspicuity (median 1.5, IQR 0.5-2), stimulation (median 1.5, IQR 1-2), and novelty (median 1.25, IQR 0.5-2). Weak correlations were found between adherence to World Health Organization guidelines for PA and the perspicuity subscale (η=0.232, P=.04), and between age and the perspicuity (Kendall τb=0.132, P=.03) and stimulation subscales (Kendall τb=0.144, P=.02), and a moderate correlation was found between gender and the novelty subscale (η=0.363, P=.004). Critical feedback from focus group discussions highlighted issues with manual data entry. Qualitative findings aligned with the quantitative results, emphasizing students' appreciation for the personalized, diverse content and social networking features of futur.move.

conclusionsfutur.move demonstrates favorable UX and aligns with student needs, particularly through its personalized content and social features. Improvements should focus on reducing manual data entry and enhancing feature clarity, particularly for the features "your condition" and "goal setting." While correlations between UX ratings and demographic variables were weak to moderate, they warrant further investigation to better address the diverse target audience. The feedback from the students serves as a basis for further adapting the service to their needs and expectations. Future work will involve coding an advanced prototype and conducting a longitudinal study to assess its impact on PA behavior and sustained engagement.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth PromotionStudentsTelemedicineAdolescentAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMobile ApplicationsQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adultcollegedigital interventionengagementexercisehealth promotionmHealthmixed methodsmobile healthmobile phonephysical activityphysical fitnesspromotesmartphone appstudentundergraduateuniversity studentusability testinguseruser experience

Identifiers

PMID40153787
PMCPMC11992504

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.