2.1 Materials and Methods
Study Design
The study was conducted to develop the app structure and user interface (UI) of the “Breastfeeding for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus App (BFGDM App).” To do so, the “Method of App Selection based on User’s Needs” (MASUN) was referenced [13]. With MASUN, healthcare professionals who are not app developers can relatively easily design app structure and UI, reflecting user needs. This approach has been used to design apps for women experiencing menstrual cramps [14], for children with obesity and their guardians [15], and for geriatric hospital nurses caring for patients with bed sores [16]. To design the BFGDM App, four mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus who had an experience in breastfeeding and three researchers in women’s health nursing (a professor with expertise in health informatics and nursing informatics, another professor with over 15 years of teaching experience in college, and a clinical instructor) participated in the study. In total, the study was conducted with seven participants between January 20 and April 30, 2022.
Step 1: Target selection
The participants and researchers discussed gestational diabetes mellitus and breastfeeding. Target app users and app users’ problems were selected based on the difficulties and questions of the participants and key contents that should be included. The study received ethical approval from the Chungbuk National University Committee of CBNU-202202-HR-0023. After seeking the consent of the participants, the study began.
Step 2: Brainstorming and Mind mapping
Concept mapping was used to systematically and flexibly organize complex problems [17]. Group concept mapping is a collaborative process that is strict, scientifically reliable, and an important practical tool. It has been widely used in health management projects [17-19]. Of various concept mapping methods, group brainstorming and mind mapping were used in this study. Brainstorming is a process that helps in generating ideas and in gaining an in-depth understanding of a topic, and mind mapping is a tool to show a core idea and new ideas derived from the core idea [20].
Step 3: Development of Persona and Scenario
Conventionally, a systematic approach without a model tailored to a particular user group was employed in designing smartphone apps but using profiles and personas has become a more valuable approach [21]. Personas help technology developers to gain an in-depth understanding of diverse target users, and they are an important feature in user-centered design [22]. They provide a guideline to technology developers in creating a software interface for users with specific health needs [21]. In this study, four personas and scenarios were created and the app functions, which would be needed by each persona, were organized into a list.
Step 4: Needs list and priority consideration
Based on the personas and scenarios developed in Step 3, user needs were organized into categories. The categories served as the criteria for the menu and functions to be included in designing the app structure and UI.
Step 5: App structure and UI design
The designs for the app structure and UI of the BFGDM App were drafted by reflecting the user needs derived in Step 4. Pen and paper were used in drafting the designs so that they would be simple and easy for the researchers.
Four mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus who had experience in breastfeeding and two professors and one clinical instructor in women’s health nursing reviewed and revised the draft designs (a total of seven).
Step 6: Final setting up of “Mental Healing App” app structure and UI
The app structure and UI of the BFGDM App were derived based on the researchers’ expert review and revision. A mobile UI designer finalized the designs.
RESULTS
Step 1: Target selection
Mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus and their supporters were determined as target users based on consensus reached in discussions by two groups consisting of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus and researchers. They made a decision to offer mobile breastfeeding care.
Step 2: Brainstorming and Mind mapping
In this step, brainstorming and mind mapping were conducted in two groups consisting of two mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus and a researcher. Seven researchers organized problems relevant to the targets and generated ideas [Figure 1].
Step 3: Development of Persona and Scenario
Persona A. – Mother with gestational diabetes mellitus
She lives with her husband in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. Her parents and parents-in-law live nearby. Currently, she is taking a leave of absence from a job due to pregnancy. This is her first pregnancy and she is diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Housewife. Name: Jin-Ah Kim (age 38, female).
Subpersona A– Support provider
He lives in Cheonan, Sough Chungcheong Province and works as a public official. He helps the pregnant wife and assists in child caring. The husband of Jin-Ah Kim. Name: Hyeong-Gyu, Park (age 40, male)
Persona B– Mother with gestational diabetes mellitus
She lives with her husband and their first child in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus during the second pregnancy. Housewife. Name: Na-Hyeon Kim (age 33, female)
Subpersona B– Support provider
She lives in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. She and Na-Hyeon were clients at the same postnatal care center during Na-Hyeon’ first childbirth. She breastfed her baby successfully. Housewife. Name: Mi-Ran Choi (age 35, female)
Step 4: Needs list and priority consideration
1) Needs derived for Personal A were as follows.
- Baby’s height and weight, normal height and weight, growth chart
- Breastfeeding date and time, the side of the breast used, daily frequency of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding statistics
- Features of breastmilk of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus, advantages of breastfeeding to mothers with the condition, and information regarding breastfeeding education centers.
- Techniques of breastfeeding and breast massage
- Community to share breastfeeding success stories
2) Needs derived for Personal B were as follows.
- Information regarding postpartum management in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Comparison of the baby’s height and weight with normal height and weight
- Information about the baby’s growth month by month against normal growth.
- Brief records of the side of the breast used and the beginning and end of a breastfeeding session
- Information search regarding symptoms of breast problems and management
- Recommendations of breastfeeding and epilogues of breastfeeding posted on a message board
- Articles containing information regarding gestational diabetes mellitus and breastfeeding and advantages of breastfeeding to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Frequency of breastfeeding by date, statistics, and graphs showing daily, weekly, and monthly average durations of breastfeeding sessions
Step 5: App structure and UI design
Researchers developed needs lists and determined priorities for the four personas, and summarized the structure and components of the BFGDM-App in a table [Table 1].
Table 1. List of priority-based user needs for BFGDM-Apps
Baby
Development
|
Recoding
|
Information
|
Statistics
and graphs
|
Community
|
Professional
Institutions
|
Name
|
Date
|
Characteristics of breast
milk in gestational
diabetic mothers
|
Baby's statistics (height, weight)
|
Frequently asked
questions and answers
|
Information from breastfeeding specialist organizations (URL)
|
Height
|
Number of
breastfeeding
|
Benefits of breastfeeding
in gestational diabetic
mothers
|
Breastfeeding statistics
(Daily, monthly)
|
Board
|
|
Weight
|
Breastfeeding time:
Stop-watch
|
Breastfeeding success
stories
|
Statistics of the number of breast- massage performed
|
|
|
Growth and Development
|
Location of lactating
breast
|
Breastfeeding method
(video)
|
|
|
|
Developmental
information by monthly age
|
Number of breast
massages
|
Breast trouble management
|
|
|
|
Step 6: Final setting up of “Mental Healing App” app structure and UI
After the design of UI was drafted based on the summary table, the researchers conducted an expert review. Based on the expert review and revisions, the draft design was revised and the app structure and UI of the BFGDM App were derived [Figure 2-1, 2, 3]. Thereafter, a total of four rounds of discussion were held with the mobile UI designer to finalize the design of the UI. Specific UI design features were as follows. The first screen consisted of login and invitation code areas, and the menu screen was designed such that a click on a submenu would open the corresponding menu. The screen for baby growth consisted of areas in which the user could record the baby’s height and weight. A click on age by month showed a normal growth chart to check the baby’s current growth status against the norms. The data screen was designed to show the daily frequency of breastfeeding recorded via a stopwatch and a link to breastfeeding statistics so that the user could check the results. The screen for breastfeeding information was designed to show written texts regarding the features of breast milk for mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus, advantages of breastfeeding to mothers with the condition, breastfeeding success stories, and videos showing breastfeeding methods and breast massage techniques to provide a guide for breast management during breastfeeding. Lastly, the community screen was designed so that the user could search for answers to fundamental questions regarding breastfeeding using an FAQ and communicate with one another through a message board.