RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Time to listen: a mixed-method study examining community-based views of mobile technology for interventions to promote physical activity
JF BMJ Health & Care Informatics
JO BMJ Health Care Inform
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e100140
DO 10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100140
VO 27
IS 3
A1 Sophie E Claudel
A1 Joniqua N Ceasar
A1 Marcus R Andrews
A1 Sherine El-Toukhy
A1 Nicole Farmer
A1 Kimberly R Middleton
A1 Melanie Sabado-Liwag
A1 Valerie M Mitchell
A1 Kosuke Tamura
A1 Alyssa T Brooks
A1 Gwenyth R Wallen
A1 Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley
YR 2020
UL http://informatics.bmj.com/content/27/3/e100140.abstract
AB Introduction A mixed-method, co-design approach to studying the adoption of mobile health (mHealth) technology among African-American (AA) women has not been fully explored. Qualitative data may contextualise existing knowledge surrounding perceptions of mHealth among AA women as part of formative work for designing a physical activity application (app).Methods A convenience sample of 16 AA women completed an informatics survey prior to participating in focus groups exploring their use of mobile technology and health apps. Survey responses provided frequency data, while iterative transcript analysis of focus groups identified themes.Results The majority of participants (mean age=62.1 years, SD=6.6) felt comfortable using a tablet/smartphone (75.0%). Most (68.8%) reported using health-related apps, primarily focused on physical activity and nutrition. Focus groups revealed four overarching concepts, including (1) user attachment, (2) technology adoption, (3) potential facilitators and (4) potential barriers. Important features which may serve as facilitators or barriers to future adoption of a mobile app for an mHealth intervention include individual app tailoring and software concerns, respectively.Discussion Thematic analysis revealed high user attachment to smartphones and described participants’ process for adopting new mHealth technology.Conclusion Early engagement of target end users as a part of a broader co-design and community-based participatory research process for developing mHealth technologies may be useful for sustained adoption of these tools in future mHealth behavioural interventions.