Design Practices and Implications in Information and Communication Technology Supported Occupational Stress Management Interventions

Information and communication technology (ICT) supported occupational stress management interventions are considered as an effective way of treating stress-related complications. Digital healthcare, including both e-health and m-health, is provided by a diverse ecosystem of actors that aims at contributing to better health of people. The development of such technological interventions is considered as an emerging area with a unique set of constraints and design concerns. However, to increase the likelihood of success of implementing ICT supported interventions for occupational stress management, it is essential to conduct a detailed analysis of the design practices and implications related to prior studies. Thus, the proposed systematic literature review based on qualitative content analysis encapsulates the knowledge gained from existing design and development efforts in the area of ICT supported occupational stress management interventions. Knowledge incorporates design characteristics and methodological implications concerning the evaluation of the design. Further, practical limitations to yield optimum efficacy levels of ICT supported stress interventions are also discussed. A systematic review of publications in four databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and MEDLINE) was carried out using broad search queries. The search strategy yielded 985 unique citations. Of those, this paper presents details relevant to 31 assessed full-text publications selected during the search process. The review showed a variety of interventional platforms, health outcomes and intervention usage measurements. Various modalities of human-and machine-based support and interactions were also identified in the analysis along with several study limitations. The findings of this review may offer insights for IT professionals working in design and implementation of ICT supported stress management interventions and to researchers involved in designing and evaluating ICT supported interventions.