Improving Self-management for Long COVID: Using Double Diamond Model to Design A mHealth App

Abstract

Due to physical isolation and shortages of medical resources caused by COVID-19, many patients with long-term symptoms cannot receive effective treatment and care after discharge from the hospital. In the present study, we proposed the design process of a mobile health (mHealth) app to improve the long COVID patients’ self-management. This study was mainly guided by the Double Diamond Model in four phases: discover, define, develop, and deliver. We interviewed twenty patients and used a user journey map to describe their experiences throughout their healthcare period. Four app themes were identified via thematic analysis in the develop phase, including self-monitoring, mental health improvement, health coaching, and health data visualization. Prototypes of the mHealth app were determined through user-centered design. The findings contributed to long COVID healthcare using mHealth and overcoming environmental barriers in existing healthcare services.