Worriers versus Warriors: Tailoring mHealth to Address Differences in Patients with Chronic Arthritis

Chronic arthritis (CA) represents a group of musculoskeletal diseases that require frequent physical therapy and a well-monitored medication regime to improve or maintain disease status. To support patients in this disease management, health apps may provide a solution. However, patients with CA differ in their disease trajectory, needs and preferences. There-fore, in this paper, we investigate the tailoring of motivational mHealth features for the heterogeneous group of patients with CA. An exploratory study was carried out, consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 34 patients with CA and six health professionals. Through qualitative analysis, we first derive a typology distinguishing patients of the Defeatist, Worrier, Warrior and Cruiser type. Each type is characterized by their own disease management needs and coping strategies. Next, we unveil how each patient type has different preferred motivational strategies. These findings may inform healthcare informatics researchers who wish to tailor mHealth applications and interventions to the diversity of patients characterized by musculoskeletal diseases and chronic pain.