Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41486157›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2026

Supporting the health of working women in midlife: co-designing and testing the acceptability of a digital exercise programme.

Helen Humphreys, Katharine Platts, Nik Kudiersky, Ursula Ankeny, Robert Copeland, Anna Lowe

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC women's health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Helen HumphreysCentre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, S10 2BP, UK.
Katharine PlattsAdvanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Olympic Park, Sheffield, S9 3TU, UK. Katharine.platts@shu.ac.uk.
Nik KudierskyAdvanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Olympic Park, Sheffield, S9 3TU, UK.
Ursula AnkenySheffield Hallam University, 153 Arundel Street, Lab4Living, Sheffield, S1 2NU, UK.
Robert CopelandAdvanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Olympic Park, Sheffield, S9 3TU, UK.
Anna LoweAdvanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Olympic Park, Sheffield, S9 3TU, UK.

Funding

UK Research and Innovation ES/W00660X/1 and ES/Y001427/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen in midlife (WiML) report a range of physical and psychological challenges, including the transition to perimenopause and menopause. Combined effects of work and life stressors alongside menopause symptoms in working women are reported to increase absenteeism, reduce productivity and work satisfaction and may result in women exiting the labour market earlier than intended. The aim of this study was to co-design and test a novel exercise programme delivered via smartphone app for working women in midlife. The findings aim to inform targeted support to facilitate exercise for working women in midlife, that could be offered virtually and at scale.

methodsA two-phase process was used to co-design and test a digital exercise programme for WiML, to be delivered via smartphone app. In phase one, participants (n = 12) joined four co-design workshops where collected data was mapped against the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). A tailored exercise programme was designed by an exercise physiologist and physiotherapist to meet user needs with a focus on increasing muscle strength. In phase two, a prototype app was developed to deliver the programme digitally. The app was tested for acceptability by a cohort of working women from the education and private sectors (n = 16) using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability as a reference.

resultsCreating opportunities, both physical and social, were identified as the strongest enablers for improving engagement with strength training exercises for WiML, while automatic motivation was identified as a barrier. The app-based exercise programme was found to be low effort to engage with, but affective attitude towards the app was neutral and perceived effectiveness of the programme was low.

conclusionA digital intervention was co-designed and tested by WiML. Findings suggest that combining a flexible programme of aerobic exercise, strength training and pelvic floor exercise via a smartphone application may be an acceptable way to support the health and wellbeing of working women in midlife. Optimisation of the app usability and functionality are needed prior to assessments of effectiveness. Digital workplace interventions are a potentially viable way to address disparities in midlife health and to support healthy ageing in women.

Indexed as

ExerciseExercise TherapyMobile ApplicationsWomen, WorkingAdultFemaleHumansMenopauseMiddle AgedSmartphoneAcceptabilityDigital health intervention.Healthy ageingMenopauseMidlifeStrength trainingUser-centred designWomen’s healthWorkplace health

Identifiers

PMID41486157
PMCPMC12869935

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.