Short answer

Designers should actively engage end-users and relevant stakeholders in participatory workshops to ensure that interventions are tailored to their lived experiences, needs, and contexts, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustained engagement.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: HRB Open Research (2025)
Method: Mixed-methods, co-design, feasibility study.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Involving users and stakeholders in the development of physical activity maintenance programs for arthritis leads to more effective and sustainable engagement. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in HRB Open Research. Using Mixed-methods, co-design, feasibility study., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should actively engage end-users and relevant stakeholders in participatory workshops to ensure that interventions are tailored to their lived experiences, needs, and contexts, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustained engagement.

Study

User-Centred DesignNew This WeekModerate effect

Co-designed physical activity maintenance interventions significantly improve adherence for individuals with arthritis.

Involving users and stakeholders in the development of physical activity maintenance programs for arthritis leads to more effective and sustainable engagement.

HRB Open Research · 2025

Key Findings

01Existing evidence and clinical guidelines can inform the logic model for PA maintenance.
02Qualitative data reveals barriers and facilitators to PA maintenance in arthritis.
03User input is crucial for refining intervention content and delivery modes.
04A co-designed, multi-component intervention is feasible for post-structured exercise participants with arthritis.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing any program or product aimed at behavior change or long-term adherence, especially for individuals with chronic conditions, integrate user feedback loops and co-design workshops from the initial stages.

Project actions

01Clearly define your target user group and their specific needs.
02Use qualitative research methods like interviews and focus groups to gather in-depth user insights.
03Incorporate user feedback at multiple stages of your design process.

Method & Evidence

AimTo co-develop and feasibility test a physical activity maintenance intervention for individuals with arthritis following a structured exercise program.

MethodMixed-methods, co-design, feasibility study.

ProcedureThe intervention development followed the INDEX framework, involving evidence synthesis, qualitative observation and interviews with participants, physiotherapists, and family members, followed by participatory workshops with stakeholders to refine the intervention, and finally, a pre-post feasibility evaluation.

ContextHealthcare, rehabilitation, chronic disease management, physical activity promotion.

Variables

IV["Intervention development process (co-design vs. traditional design)","Inclusion of user feedback"]

DV["Feasibility of the intervention","User adherence to physical activity maintenance"]

CV["Participant diagnosis (arthritis)","Prior participation in a structured exercise program"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Rigorous, multi-phase intervention development process.
+Emphasis on co-design and stakeholder involvement.

Limitations

Small sample sizes in qualitative phases can limit generalizability; feasibility does not guarantee long-term efficacy.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative data provides rich, in-depth insights (high validity), while the feasibility study offers preliminary evidence of the intervention's practicality (moderate reliability for future effectiveness).

Think critically

How might the specific context of a physiotherapy-led program influence the generalizability of these findings to other types of exercise programs or health interventions?

Design Principles

"User-centered design principles, particularly co-design and participatory action research, are vital for developing effective health and wellness interventions."

This research highlights the critical role of user involvement in designing interventions that address the specific challenges faced by individuals with chronic conditions like arthritis. By co-designing, practitioners can create programs that are not only theoretically sound but also practically relevant and adaptable to real-world user needs and contexts.

What This Means for Your Design

If you want to help people with arthritis keep exercising after a program ends, it's best to ask them and their doctors what would actually work for them, rather than just guessing.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when justifying the use of user research and co-design methodologies in your design project.
2.Use the findings to support the importance of understanding user barriers and facilitators in your own research.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This project adopts a user-centered design approach, informed by research such as French et al. (2025), which highlights the critical role of co-developing interventions with end-users and stakeholders. By integrating user insights into the design process, we aim to create solutions that are not only functional but also contextually relevant and sustainable for our target audience.

Source

HRB Open Research

MAintAin Activity in Arthritis: A study protocol of the co-development and feasibility testing of a physical activity maintenance intervention [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about co-designed physical activity maintenance interventions significantly improve adherence for individuals with arthritis?: Designers should actively engage end-users and relevant stakeholders in participatory workshops to ensure that interventions are tailored to their lived experiences, needs, and contexts, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustained engagement. Evidence: HRB Open Research (2025).
Why does "Co-designed physical activity maintenance interventions significantly improve adherence for individuals with arthritis." matter for design?: This research highlights the critical role of user involvement in designing interventions that address the specific challenges faced by individuals with chronic conditions like arthritis. By co-designing, practitioners can create programs that are not only theoretically sound but also practically relevant and adaptable to real-world user needs and contexts.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should actively engage end-users and relevant stakeholders in participatory workshops to ensure that interventions are tailored to their lived experiences, needs, and contexts, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustained engagement.
What were the main findings?: Existing evidence and clinical guidelines can inform the logic model for PA maintenance.. Qualitative data reveals barriers and facilitators to PA maintenance in arthritis.. User input is crucial for refining intervention content and delivery modes.. A co-designed, multi-component intervention is feasible for post-structured exercise participants with arthritis.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods, co-design, feasibility study..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2025 journal from HRB Open Research.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any program or product aimed at behavior change or long-term adherence, especially for individuals with chronic conditions, integrate user feedback loops and co-design workshops from the initial stages.
What are the limitations?: The feasibility study's outcomes may not fully represent long-term effectiveness; the intervention was tested in a specific context (post-physiotherapy program).