title: Design element alternatives for stress-management intervention websites.
abstract: Typical public and military-sponsored websites on stress and depression tend to be prescriptive. Some require users to complete lengthy questionnaires. Others reproduce printed flyers, papers, or educational materials not adapted for online use. Some websites require users to follow a prescribed path through the material. Stress Gym was developed as a first-level, evidence-based, website intervention to help U.S. military members learn how to manage mild to moderate stress and depressive symptoms using a self-help intervention with progress tracking and 24/7 availablility. It was designed using web-based, health-management intervention design elements that have been proven effective and users reported they prefer. These included interactivity, self-pacing, and pleasing aesthetics. Users learned how to manage stress by accessing modules they choose, and by practicing proven stress management strategies interactively immediately after login. Test results of Stress Gym with Navy members demonstrated that it was effective, with significant decreases in reported perceived stress levels from baseline to follow-up assessment. Stress Gym used design elements that may serve as a model for future websites to emulate and improve upon, and as a template against which to compare and contrast the design and functionality of future online, health-intervention websites.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. rawill@umich.edu
authors.forename: Reg A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatien
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hagerty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult