This study evaluated More Stamina, a gamified mobile app that helps people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage fatigue, during 60 days of everyday use. Twenty participants from Oulu University Hospital tracked their daily activities while we measured fatigue, quality of life, usability and engagement, and interviewed them about their experience. The app proved feasible and acceptable, helping people become more aware of their fatigue and plan their energy ahead.
What was the context of our study?
Fatigue is the most common and disabling symptom of MS, affecting up to 80% of people with the condition. It has physical, cognitive and psychosocial components, which makes it difficult to manage. Mobile health apps offer promising support for self-management, but most lack personalization and rigorous evaluation.
What did we do?
We ran a 60-day mixed-methods pilot study with 20 people with MS recruited from Oulu University Hospital, Finland. Participants used More Stamina to log their daily activities and the energy each one cost them. We measured fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), quality of life (15D), usability (System Usability Scale) and eHealth literacy (eHEALS), analysed app usage logs, and used think-aloud sessions and interviews to understand their experience.
What did we find?
Participants fell into three groups based on how much they used the app: power, regular and light users.
- Engagement: Power users had the most severe fatigue but reported a better quality of life than light users.
- Usability: Usability scores improved over the 60 days as participants became more fluent with the app.
- Self-awareness: Participants said the app helped them understand their fatigue and talk about it with family and healthcare providers. Some also used it as a journal or to prepare for medical appointments.
- Challenges: Technical issues and the effort of repetitive data entry were the main frustrations.
Why is this important?
The study shows that a gamified app can be a feasible, acceptable tool for managing MS fatigue in everyday life, especially for people with severe fatigue. It supports self-awareness and proactive energy planning, and points to what larger, long-term studies need to test before such apps become part of routine MS care.
Reference
Giunti G, Yrttiaho T, Guardado-Medina S, Sachinopoulou A, Mylonopoulou V, Fält J, Paloniemi B, Ryytty M, Krüger J, Isomursu M. Feasibility and usability evaluation of a gamified fatigue management mobile application for persons with multiple sclerosis in everyday life. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 2025;97:106379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2025.106379