Types of Participant Notifications
- Updated
MyDataHelps Designer allows custom notifications to be sent to participants via push, SMS, and email. See Participant Notifications Overview for general information on notifications and related articles.
Push Notification Fields
Push notifications can be used to send brief messages to participants via their mobile device, as long as they have the MyDataHelps app installed and notifications enabled. These will automatically open the app when clicked, but they can also be configured to direct the participants to a specific survey or tab within the app.
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Identifier | Used internally to identify the notification. |
| Description | Notes about the notification's purpose and delivery triggers. This field is not visible to participants. |
| Title | A title/heading shown above the message body. |
| Body | The main body of the message, in plain-text format. |
| Sound | The sound the participant hears when they receive a push notification. Can either be set to no sound or default. Null values for previous notifications will be interpreted as the platform default (on iOS the default is no sound, on Android the default is to play a sound). |
| Image | Optional image to be displayed with push notifications. Can select the existing workspace logo or upload a new image. Requires iOS 15. See Apple Developer Documentation for the list of supported image types and maximum file sizes. Non-square images may be cropped. For transparent images, we recommend checking to be sure they display ok on both light and dark backgrounds. |
| Link | Optional action that is triggered when the participant clicks the push notification. This can either take the participant to complete a survey via the app or direct them to a specific tab within the app. See Completing Surveys with Survey Links or Ecological Momentary Assessments for more information on the different link types. |
SMS Notification Fields
SMS notifications, or text messages, can be a good communication method for projects that require the participant's phone number, but don't require interaction with the mobile app (i.e., if the participant is expected to use the app, you may prefer to use push notifications).
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Identifier | Used internally to identify the notification. |
| Description | Notes about the notification's purpose and delivery triggers. This field is not visible to participants. |
| Always Send | Send to EVERYONE in the project, regardless of status. This includes participants who are unsubscribed, withdrawn, and past their notification end date. This should only be enabled for transactional or relationship content, as defined by the CAN-SPAM Act. Contact us for assistance enabling this feature. |
| Body | The contents of the SMS/text message, in plain-text format. |
| Link | Optional link to add to the end of the SMS message. This can either take the participant to complete a survey via web browser (no login required), complete a survey via the app, register with MyDataHelps, or directly to a specific tab within the app. See Completing Surveys with Survey Links for more information. |
SMS notifications with > 140 characters risk being split up into multiple text messages. We recommend you keep SMS notifications succinct and test prior to project launch.
Email Notifications
Email notifications are a great method for communicating with participants. These can be especially useful for projects that don’t require participants to use the mobile app. You might also use them to deliver a Consent PDF.
The following sections cover the various fields you can define when configuring email notifications and the pre-configured email template options available to help you quickly build out your content.
Regardless of the template used, it is a recommended best practice to test the delivery of your email notifications using real emails, on various email applications, before sending to participants.
Standard Fields
When first creating an email notification, you will be presented with the following fields:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Identifier | Used internally to identify the notification. |
| Description | Notes about the notification's purpose and delivery triggers. This field is not visible to participants. |
| Always Send | Send to EVERYONE in the project, regardless of status. This includes participants who are unsubscribed, withdrawn, and past their notification end date. This should only be enabled for transactional or relationship content, as defined by the CAN-SPAM Act. Contact us for assistance enabling this feature. |
| Subject | The email subject. |
| Template | Choose from None, Call to Action V2, Call to Action, Informational V2, Informational, or Project Invitation. Depending on the template selected, you will be presented with additional fields. |
Template Type: None
If you do not wish to use a pre-configured email template, select “None.” This option is recommended for study teams that want the most flexibility in creating/coding their email notifications.
This template will present you with the following additional field:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Body | The body of the email message. You may use the default rich text editor or code your email using HTML (click the </> symbol within the editing bar to open the code view). |
To upload an image from your computer to your email notification, either drag and drop it into the rich text editor window or click the image icon in the toolbar. This image will automatically be hosted by CareEvolution. To view the "Source" URL of the hosted image, click on the image, then click the pencil icon.
Template Type: Call to Action
There are two Call to Action templates available in MyDataHelps Designer. The Call to Action templates are meant to guide participants to complete a specific action. This can be very effective for directing participants to complete a survey or to visit a link with resources.
Call to Action V2 Template
This template will present you with the following additional fields:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Banner Image |
Optional banner above the body content. |
| Body | The body of the email message. You can click and drag this field to adjust the size when editing. |
| Call to Action Link | Where participants will go when they click the call to action button. For more information on the types of survey and tab links available, see Completing Surveys with Survey Links. |
| Call to Action Text |
Text on the call to action button. |
| Button Background Color |
Color of the call to action button. |
| Button Text Color |
Color of the call to action text. |
| Footer |
Text underneath the call to action button. |
| Powered By Text |
Optional language to accompany the MyDataHelps logo. |
Call to Action Template
This template will present you with the following additional fields:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Banner Image | Optional banner above the body content. |
| Body | The body of the email message. You can click and drag this field to adjust the size when editing. |
| Call to Action Link | Where participants will go when they click the call to action button. For more information on the types of survey and tab links available, see Completing Surveys with Survey Links. |
| Call to Action Text |
Text on the call to action button. |
| Button Background Color |
Color of the call to action button. |
| Button Text Color |
Color of the call to action text. |
| Footer |
Text underneath the call to action button. |
Template Type: Informational
There are two Informational templates available in MyDataHelps Designer. The Informational templates provide the foundation for quickly creating a simple email, including a banner image at the top. This can be used for many purposes, including congratulating participants on a milestone or confirming information.
Informational V2 Template
This template will present you with the following additional field:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Banner Image | Optional banner above the body content. |
| Body | The body of the email message. You can click and drag this field to adjust the size when editing. |
| Powered By Text | Optional language to accompany the MyDataHelps logo. |
Informational Template
This template will present you with the following additional field:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Banner Image | Optional banner above the body content. |
| Body | The body of the email message. You can click and drag this field to adjust the size when editing. |
Template: Project Invitation
The Project Invitation template allows study teams to seamlessly create a visually appealing and informational invitation email. This can be used to provide prospective participants an easy way to enroll into the study as well as provide a brief study overview.
This template will present you with the following additional field:
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Banner Image | Optional banner above the body content. |
| Title | The title of the email message. |
| Project Logo | Optional image to be displayed above the Project Name. Can select the existing organization logo or upload a new image. |
| Project Name | The name of your project. The Project Name field is optionally pre-populated with with the Display Name that can be set in the About Settings tab. |
| Organization Name |
The name of your organization. The Organization Name is optionally pre-populated with the Organization Display Name that can be set in Workspace Settings.
|
| Button Link | Action that is triggered when the participant clicks the button. The Button Link field is optionally pre-populated with a web url that takes participants to the MyDataHelps website to create an account. See Completing Surveys with Survey Links for more information. |
| Button Text | Text on the button. |
| Button Background Color | Color of the button. |
| Button Text Color | Color of the button text. |
| Project About Title | The name of your project. The Project Name field is optionally pre-populated with with the Display Name that can be set in the About Settings tab. |
| Project About | The name of your project. The Project Name field is optionally pre-populated with with the Display Description that can be set in the About Settings tab. |
| Powered By Text | Optional language to accompany the MyDataHelps logo.
|
Inbox Notifications
Inbox notifications are an internal method of communicating to participants, i.e., the participant can only view them while logged into MyDataHelps. These can be especially beneficial if you want to share information with the participant, but don't want to overburden them with notifications. Alternatively, you can use these to create a curriculum for participants - distributing Inbox messages and resources based on a specific schedule or survey responses.
There are two types of Inbox notifications:
- Messages
- Resources
Messages
Inbox Messages are the basic building block of Inbox notifications - you can set a title that displays to the participant and body text that will display when the participant opens the message. Additionally, you can attach related Inbox Resource(s) to the message for participants to view.
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Identifier | Used internally to identify the notification. |
| Description | Notes about the notification's purpose and delivery triggers. This field is not visible to participants. |
| Title | A title/heading shown above the message body. |
| Body | The contents of the message, in plain-text format. |
| Related Resources | Optional Inbox Resource notification that can be linked to the Inbox Message. This will display when the participant opens the message. |
| Categories | Optional category for classifying the notification. |
For example, you may wish to send a message about getting started with a new wearable device. Within that message, you can link to a resource, which links out to the device manufacturer's set up guide.
Resources
Resources should be used when you want to share a link with a participant (e.g., a site that provides education on a device they’re using or a specific condition). Resources can be sent as a standalone Inbox notification or combined with an Inbox Message.
| PROPERTY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| Identifier | Used internally to identify the notification. |
| Description | Notes about the notification's purpose and delivery triggers. This field is not visible to participants. |
| Title | A title/heading for the notification. |
| Subtitle | Optional text to display under the title. |
| URL | Link that participants are directed to upon clicking the Resource. |
| Image | Optional image to display above the title of the notification. |
| Categories | Optional category for classifying the notification. |
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