scholarly journals Factors Affecting Consumer Adoption of Mobile Apps in NCR: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neerja Arora ◽  
Garima Malik ◽  
Deepak Chawla

The recent years have seen an exponential rise in the mobile application space. Organizations strive to be present in this space for interacting with the customer. In this light, it is important to study the current usage of mobile applications and factors which affect their adoption across age groups. This research is a qualitative study, which investigates the pattern of usage, the user friendliness, the liked and disliked features of mobile apps and the beliefs associated with them. Mobile applications being a fairly recent technological advancement, it has been important to study their adoption in the light of the diffusion of innovation and investigate the effect of social influence on decisions to use mobile apps. The findings of this study are based on a total of 29 responses (19 through semi-structured interviews and 10 through focus group discussion) in National Capital Region of India (NCR). The responses were analyzed using content analysis. This study reveals differences in patterns of usage and beliefs among Gen X and Gen Y users. It was found that Gen Y users used mobile apps much more extensively than Gen X users. Though both categories of users believed that usage of mobile apps made life easier, Gen X users had negative beliefs about mobile apps. The findings also reveal the presence of the trait of innovativeness and uniqueness among Gen Y users, which leads to adoption of mobile applications.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Mansouri ◽  
Shoaleh Bigdeli ◽  
Afsaneh Dehnad ◽  
Zohreh Sohrabi ◽  
Somayeh Alizadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The importance of mobile phones has become one of the new research topics in health professions education due to the ease of access and flexibility. Although novel approaches to health professions education recommend the use of educational technologies such as mobile applications, a limited number of studies have been conducted with regard to teaching anatomy through mobile applications. Considering the increasing needs of medical students for mobile technology to meet their educational needs, wants and desires, we decided to explore the features of an anatomy mobile application. Methods This qualitative study was conducted in two stages of holding focus groups and an expert panel session. Students of basic Medical sciences, and faculty members of anatomy at Iran University of Medical Sciences formed the research participants. Semi-structured interviews and note-taking were used to collect the data. Brown and Clark methods were used for thematic analysis and feature extraction. Finally, four criteria presented by Lincoln and Guba for qualitative studies were used to ensure the credibility, confirmability, trustworthiness and transferability of the data. Results Based on the data analysis, 37 codes that could be used to design anatomy mobile content for medical students were extracted. These features were categorized into the main themes of “visual richness”, “scientific comprehensiveness”, “audio richness”, “affordability”, “user-friendliness”, “self-assessment”, “interactive content” and “user support”. Conclusion This study explored the features of an anatomy application that can be used by educational app developers. Anatomy departments of universities of medical sciences, policymakers, and planners in the field of medical education can also adopt the findings of the present study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Hu

Most digital music repositories and services have mobile applications (apps) that facilitate convenient access for users via smartphones. Although China has one of the largest music listener populations in the world, there is little research evaluating Chinese online or mobile music services. To bridge this gap, this study evaluated mobile apps of three of the most popular Chinese music services from the user’s perspective, using usability testing and semi-structured interviews with a sample of active users in China. Nielsen’s 10 user experience heuristics and four criteria in recommender evaluation were examined. Results identified criteria that create a positive user experience, and those that need further improvement. This study contributes to the literature in user-centred evaluation in music information retrieval (MIR) and music digital libraries (MDL), and provides practical insights for music application design, use and evaluation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Bezerra ◽  
Rimante Ronto ◽  
Josephine Y Chau ◽  
Clara Chow ◽  
Liliana Laranjo

BACKGROUND Heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality in the world. Heart failure self-management is challenging and involves a set of self-care behaviours required to reduce the risk of deterioration, identify signs and symptoms of exacerbation, and avoid hospitalisation. Mobile applications (apps) have the potential to facilitate heart failure self-management tasks. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the facilitators and barriers to using mobile applications, as well as desired features, to support heart failure self-management. METHODS Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in a general practice clinic in Sydney. Eligible participants were adult heart failure patients and health care professionals who provided care to these patients at the clinic. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic data analysis in NVivo 12. RESULTS Twelve participants were interviewed: six patients (mean age 69±7.9 years) and six clinicians. The main facilitators to the use of apps to support heart failure self-management included the ability for communication between clinicians and patients, personalized feedback and education, and automated self-monitoring. Other desired features included facilitated monitoring of patient-reported measures and mental health tools. Main barriers were related to patients’ digital literacy. CONCLUSIONS The use of mobile apps to support heart failure self-management can be facilitated by several features identified in this study. Future research should consider these features in the co-design and testing of heart failure mobile apps with patients and clinicians.


Sains Insani ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Zulkefli Aini ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Don ◽  
Ahmad Irdha Mokhtar ◽  
Nur Uswah Ahmad Fauzi

One of the factors that can affect a person's behavior is a communication message. In the context of the da`wah, preachers who involved actively in da`wah communication with the Orang Asli should be able to ensure that the message conveyed can be understood by the target group. In addition, the selection of the correct messages of da`wah based on the foremost priority simplify the process of sharing information between the preachers and the Orang Asli. Accordingly, this article aims to identify specific topics of Islamic faith (akidah) submitted by the Orang Asli in the process of da`wah communication and to identify verbal feedback given by the preachers to the Orang Asli of the topics. This qualitative study using case study design and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews involving nine preachers were active in da`wah activity to the Orang Asli community in Selangor. Data were analyzed thematically according to the specified objectives. The study found that the topics frequently raised by the Orang Asli is concerned about belief in Allah, belief in Malaikat, and belief in Qada' and Qadar. The topics may be found within the framework of worldview in their beliefs and practice of ancient traditions. Therefore, the preachers gave verbal feedback on these topics is based on a clear and precise sample corresponding to the level of their thinking. The emphasis on these topics is very important to strengthen and purify the faith of the community.Keywords: Communication; Message; Preacher; Indigenous community Abstrak: Elemen mesej dalam komunikasi merupakan salah satu faktor yang dapat memberi kesan terhadap perubahan tingkah laku seseorang. Dalam konteks dakwah, pendakwah yang terlibat dalam proses komunikasi dakwah dengan Orang Asli seharusnya berkebolehan memastikan kandungan mesej yang disampaikan boleh difahami oleh sasaran dakwahnya. Di samping itu, pemilihan mesej dakwah yang betul mengikut keutamaan memudahkan proses perkongsian maklumat antara pendakwah dengan Orang Asli. Sehubungan dengan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti topik-topik tertentu dalam mesej akidah yang dikemukakan oleh masyarakat Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dan mengenalpasti maklum balas lisan yang diberikan oleh pendakwah kepada Orang Asli terhadap topik tersebut. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan reka bentuk kajian kes dengan pengumpulan data melalui temu bual separa struktur. Temu bual melibatkan sembilan orang pendakwah yang aktif dalam aktiviti dakwah masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor. Data kajian dianalisis secara tematik mengikut objektif yang ditentukan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang sering dikemukan oleh Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dalam penyampaian mesej akidah ialah berkenaan tentang keimanan kepada Allah SWT, keimanan kepada malaikat, dan keimanan kepada qada’ dan qadar. Topik-topik berkenaan didapati berada dalam kerangka worldview kepercayaan dan amalan tradisi mereka. Sehubungan dengan itu, pendakwah memberikan maklum balas lisan terhadap topik-topik tersebut adalah berdasarkan keterangan yang jelas dan contoh yang tepat bersesuaian dengan tahap pemikiran mereka. Penekanan terhadap topik-topik tersebut merupakan perkara yang penting dalam rangka mengukuhkan dan memurnikan akidah masyarakat Orang Asli.Kata kunci: Komunikasi; Mesej; Pendakwah; Komuniti Orang Asli


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Asilah Ahmad ◽  
Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Noorlaili Mohd Tohit

BACKGROUND Currently, the use of smartphones to deliver health-related content has experienced a rapid growth, with more than 165,000 mobile health (mHealth) applications currently available in the digital marketplace such as iOS store and Google Play. Among these, there are several mobile applications (mobile apps) that offer tools for disease prevention and management among older generations. These mobile apps could potentially promote health behaviors which will reduce or delay the onset of disease. However, no review to date that has focused on the app marketplace specific for older adults and little is known regarding its evidence-based quality towards the health of older adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to characterize and critically appraise the content and functionality of mobile apps that focuses on health management and/or healthy lifestyle among older adults. METHODS An electronic search was conducted between May 2019 to December 2019 of the official app store for two major smartphone operating systems: iPhone operating system (iTunes App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). Stores were searched separately using predetermined search terms. Two authors screened apps based on information provided in the app description. Metadata from all included apps were abstracted into a standard assessment criteria form. Evidenced based strategies and health care expert involvement of included apps was assessed. Evidenced based strategies included: self-monitoring, goal setting, physical activity support, healthy eating support, weight and/or health assessment, personalized feedback, motivational strategies, cognitive training and social support. Two authors verified the data with reference to the apps and downloaded app themselves. RESULTS A total of 16 apps met the inclusion criteria. Six out of 16 (37.5%) apps were designed exclusively for the iOS platform while ten out of 16 (62.5%) were designed for Android platform exclusively. Physical activity component was the most common feature offered in all the apps (9/16, 56.3%) and followed by cognitive training (8/16, 50.0%). Diet/nutrition (0/16, 0%) feature, however, was not offered on all reviewed mobile apps. Of reviewed apps, 56.3% (9/16) provide education, 37.5% (6/16) provide self-monitoring features, 18.8% (3/16) provide goal setting features, 18.5% (3/16) provide personalized feedback, 6.3% (1/16) provide social support and none of the reviewed apps offers heart rate monitoring and reminder features to the users. CONCLUSIONS All reviewed mobile apps for older adults in managing health did not focused on diet/nutrition component, lack of functional components and lack of health care professional involvement in their development process. There is also a need to carry out scientific testing prior to the development of the app to ensure cost effective and its health benefits to older adults. Collaborative efforts between developers, researchers, health professionals and patients are needed in developing evidence-based, high quality mobile apps in managing health prior they are made available in the app store.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reham AlTamime ◽  
Vincent Marmion ◽  
Wendy Hall

BACKGROUND Mobile apps and IoT-enabled smartphones technologies facilitate collecting, sharing, and inferring from a vast amount of data about individuals’ location, health conditions, mobility status, and other factors. The use of such technology highlights the importance of understanding individuals’ privacy concerns to design applications that integrate their privacy expectations and requirements. OBJECTIVE This paper explores, assesses, and predicts individuals’ privacy concerns in relation to collecting and disclosing data on mobile health apps. METHODS We designed a questionnaire to identify participants’ privacy concerns pertaining to a set of 432 mobile apps’ data collection and sharing scenarios. Participants were presented with 27 scenarios that varied across three categorical factors: (1) type of data collected (e.g. health, demographic, behavioral, and location); (2) data sharing (e.g., whether it is shared, and for what purpose); and, (3) retention rate (e.g., forever, until the purpose is satisfied, unspecified, week, or year). RESULTS Our findings show that type of data, data sharing, and retention rate are all factors that affect individuals’ privacy concerns. However, specific factors such as collecting and disclosing health data to a third-party tracker play a larger role than other factors in triggering privacy concerns. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that it is possible to predict privacy concerns based on these three factors. We propose design approaches that can improve users’ awareness and control of their data on mobile applications


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-447
Author(s):  
Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen ◽  
Sine Agergaard ◽  
Michalis Stylianou ◽  
Jens Troelsen

In the context of implementing a physical activity policy as part of a national school reform in Denmark, the purpose of this study was to explore lower secondary teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of the physical activity policy with a focus on movement integration. In total, 14 teachers from four different schools were selected to take part in this qualitative study, which involved semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, go-along observations and informal interviews. A thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and describe patterns of meaning within data. The findings showed substantial diversity among teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of movement integration, and consequently a lack of definitional clarity regarding movement integration and a possible misalignment between policy and practice. Teachers’ perceptions and interpretations of movement integration were influenced by other and more prioritised policies and discourses regarding academic achievement, as well as by intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional factors. The findings also suggested a lack of support and collaboration within the school and provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the autonomy afforded in the Danish school reform.


Author(s):  
Garima Sharma

This article explores the transition of youth from childcare institutions as young adults through the lens of youth identity and gender. The research revolves around rethinking the delicate boundaries of adolescence and adulthood for the ‘institutionalised’ youth that is already on the edge of the society. This research tries to understand and decode the experiences of youth, who have lived in the childcare institutions. The childcare institutions reinforce the gender roles through its practices and structure, enabling gaps and challenges for both male and female youth outside the childcare institutions. There is an absence of a strong mechanism, enabling the smooth transition of youth from childcare institutions to adulthood. This results in unprepared young adults for an unplanned transition, fostering several challenges on them as they exit the childcare system. This is a qualitative study. The research includes both male and female youth who have lived in childcare institutions situated in Delhi. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with the youth. This study finds that youth leaving the childcare institutions are at higher risks of having negative adult outcomes in life. While there is an absolute absence of any body or mechanism to help the youth transit smoothly, childcare institutions reinforce the inferiority and exclusion on a child during the stay period, creating a foundation for youth to perceive the social factor outside the institutions.


BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine W. Buek ◽  
Dagoberto Cortez ◽  
Dorothy J. Mandell

Abstract Background Perinatal care nurses are well positioned to provide the education and support new fathers need to navigate the transition to fatherhood and to encourage positive father involvement from the earliest hours of a child’s life. To effectively serve fathers in perinatal settings, it is important to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of healthcare providers that may encourage and engage them, or alternatively alienate and discourage them. Methods This qualitative study involved structured interviews with ten NICU and postpartum nurses from hospitals in two large Texas cities. The interview protocol was designed to elicit descriptive information about nurses’ attitudes and beliefs, sense of efficacy and intention for working with fathers, as well as their father-directed behaviors. Nurses were recruited for the study using a purposive sampling approach. Interviews were conducted by telephone and lasted approximately 25 to 35 min. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results Overall, study participants held very positive subjective attitudes toward fathers and father involvement. Nevertheless, many of the nurses signaled normative beliefs based on race/ethnicity, gender, and culture that may moderate their intention to engage with fathers. Participants also indicated that their education as well as the culture of perinatal healthcare are focused almost entirely on the mother-baby dyad. In line with this focus on mothers, participants comments reflected a normative belief that fathers are secondary caregivers to their newborns, there to help when the mother is unavailable. Conclusions Nurse attitudes and practices that place mothers in the role of primary caregiver may be interpreted by fathers as excluding or disregarding them. Further research is needed to validate the results of this small-scale study, and to assess whether and how provider attitudes impact their practices in educating and engaging fathers in newborn care.


Author(s):  
Katharina Diehl ◽  
Tatiana Görig ◽  
Charlotte Jansen ◽  
Maike Carola Hruby ◽  
Annette B. Pfahlberg ◽  
...  

Pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians play an important role in counselling customers regarding sunscreen use and sun protection measures. A potentially helpful tool that can be used during counselling is the ultraviolet index (UVI), which informs individuals when and what sun protection measures are needed at a specific place and time. Our aim in this qualitative study was to explore awareness, knowledge, and use of the UVI during counselling in pharmacies. We used semi-structured interviews with pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians (n = 20) to answer our research questions. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. During the interviews pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians revealed a lot of uncertainty and lack of knowledge regarding the UVI. Eight professionals were able to give a correct definition of UVI. Amongst others, the UVI was confused with sun protection factor. Overall, the UVI was hardly used during the counselling of customers. The UVI was developed to provide guidance when which type of sun protection is required to avoid detrimental effects of ultraviolet radiation. For effective implementation, both the general population and health professionals (e.g., pharmacists) have to increase their knowledge about the UVI. This would strengthen its use during professional counselling in pharmacies and may help to reduce the incidence of skin cancer over the long term.


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