Exploration of user needs and design requirements of a digital stress management intervention for software employees in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Digital stress management interventions are considered promising additions to the spectrum of the programs companies use to support the well-being of their employees. However, a series of constraints are identified that hinder the potential benefits of such interventions. These constraints include a lack of user engagement and personalisation, poor adherence and high attrition. Understanding the specific user needs and requirements is essential to increase the likelihood of success in implementing ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-supported stress management interventions. Thus, following the findings from a previous quantitative study, the proposed study aimed to further explore the user needs and requirements for designing digital stress management interventions for software employees in Sri Lanka. METHODS: The study used a qualitative approach based on three focus groups with 22 software employees in Sri Lanka. The focus group discussions were conducted online and recorded digitally. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ)-32 items were followed for reporting this study. RESULTS: The analysis revealed three major themes: self-help in a personal space, social support in a collaborative space, and general design considerations for achieving success. The first theme revealed the users’ preference for having a personal space where they could engage in individual activities without support from an external party. The second theme elaborated on the importance of adding a collaborative platform to seek help from peers and professionals. The final theme explored the user-desired design features that could increase user engagement and adherence. CONCLUSIONS: This study used a qualitative approach to further explore the findings of a previous quantitative study. The focus group discussions confirmed the results of the previous study and provided the opportunity to better understand user needs and yield new insights. Such insights revealed user preference for embedding personal and collaborative platforms in a single intervention, embedding gamified elements, the provision of passive content generation via sensory systems, and the need for personalisation. These empirical findings will feed into the design of ICT-supported interventions for occupational stress management among Sri Lankan software employees. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-023-15480-7.