Public Attitudes Towards the Use of Novel Technologies in Their Future Healthcare: A UK Survey

Abstract Background Innovation in healthcare technologies can result in more convenient and effective treatment that is less costly, but a persistent challenge to widespread adoption in health and social care is end user acceptability. The purpose of this study was to capture UK public opinions and attitudes to novel healthcare technologies (NHTs), and to better understand the factors that contribute to acceptance and future use. Methods An online survey was distributed to the UK public between April and May 2020. Respondents received brief information about four novel healthcare technologies (NHTs) in development: a laser-based tool for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, a virtual reality tool to support diabetes self-management, a non-invasive continuous glucose monitor using microwave signals, a mobile app for patient reported monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis. They were queried on their general familiarity and attitudes to technology, and their willingness to accept each NHT in their future care. Responses were analysed using summary statistics and content analysis. Results Knowledge about NHTs was diverse, with respondents being more aware about the health applications of mobile apps (66%), followed by laser-based technology (63.8%), microwave signalling (28%), and virtual reality (18.3%). Increasing age and the presence of a self-reported medical condition favoured acceptability for some NHTs, whereas self-reported understanding of how the NHT works resulted in elevated acceptance scores across all NHTs presented. Common contributors to hesitancy were safety and risks from use. Respondents wanted more information and evidence to help inform their decisions, ideally provided verbally by a general practitioner or health professional. Other concerns, such as privacy, were NHT-specific but equally important in decision-making. Conclusions Early insight into the knowledge and preconceptions of the public about NHTs in development can assist their design and prospectively mitigate obstacles to acceptance and adoption.

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Public attitudes towards the use of novel technologies in their future healthcare: A UK survey

10.1101/2021.12.05.21266892 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Sauchelli ◽

Tim Pickles ◽

Alexandra Voinescu ◽

Heungjae Choi ◽

Ben Sherlock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Online Survey ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Mobile App ◽

Continuous Glucose Monitor ◽

Novel Technologies ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Healthcare Technologies

AbstractBackgroundInnovation in healthcare technologies can result in more convenient and effective treatment that is less costly, but a persistent challenge to widespread adoption in health and social care is end user acceptability. The purpose of this study was to capture UK public opinions and attitudes to novel healthcare technologies (NHTs), and to better understand the factors that contribute to acceptance and future use.MethodsAn online survey was distributed to the UK public between April and May 2020. Respondents received brief information about four novel healthcare technologies (NHTs) in development: a laser-based tool for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, a virtual reality tool to support diabetes self-management, a non-invasive continuous glucose monitor using microwave signals, a mobile app for patient reported monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis. They were queried on their general familiarity and attitudes to technology, and their willingness to accept each NHT in their future care. Responses were analysed using summary statistics and content analysis.ResultsKnowledge about NHTs was diverse, with respondents being more aware about the health applications of mobile apps (66%), followed by laser-based technology (63.8%), microwave signalling (28%), and virtual reality (18.3%). Increasing age and the presence of a self-reported medical condition favoured acceptability for some NHTs, whereas self-reported understanding of how the NHT works resulted in elevated acceptance scores across all NHTs presented. Common contributors to hesitancy were safety and risks from use. Respondents wanted more information and evidence to help inform their decisions, ideally provided verbally by a general practitioner or health professional. Other concerns, such as privacy, were NHT-specific but equally important in decision-making.ConclusionsEarly insight into the knowledge and preconceptions of the public about NHTs in development can assist their design and prospectively mitigate obstacles to acceptance and adoption.

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A Survey on the Use of Mobile Applications for People who Are Visually Impaired

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness ◽

10.1177/0145482x1711100402 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 111 (4) ◽

pp. 307-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Nora Griffin-Shirley ◽

Devender R. Banda ◽

Paul M. Ajuwon ◽

Jongpil Cheon ◽

Jaehoon Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mobile Application ◽

Online Survey ◽

Low Vision ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Visual Impairments ◽

Mobile App ◽

Adult Group ◽

Preliminary Information ◽

Old Adult ◽

Middle Aged Adult

Introduction The literature indicates that few studies have been conducted with persons with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) concerning mobile application or “app” usage. The current study explores the use of mobile apps with this population globally. Methods A total of 259 participants with visual impairments completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics and bivariate tests were used to examine associations between demographic characteristics and mobile app use. Results The participants rated special apps as useful (95.4%) and accessible (91.1%) tools for individuals with visual impairments. More than 90% of the middle-aged adult group strongly agreed with the practicality of special apps, a significantly higher percentage than was observed in the young and old adult groups. In addition, the participants with low vision considered special apps less accessible than did those with blindness (p < .05). Discussion Results show that persons with visual impairments frequently use apps specifically designed for them to accomplish daily activities. Furthermore, this population is satisfied with mobile apps and would like to see improvements and new apps. Implications for practitioners Developers of apps for individuals with visual impairments need to refine and test the existing apps. Practitioners need to be knowledgeable about app usage so they can provide effective instruction to their students or clients. This study provides preliminary information regarding app usage among persons with visual impairments.

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Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists’ Use of Mobile Health Technology: Qualitative Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13966 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Kelsey Thompson ◽

Emily Zimmerman

Keyword(s):

Parent Education ◽

Technology Use ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Clinical Work ◽

The United States ◽

Mobile App ◽

Future Research ◽

Age Group ◽

Speech Language Pathologists

BACKGROUND While technology use in pediatric therapies is increasing, there is so far no research available focusing on how pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States use technology. OBJECTIVE This paper sought to determine if, and to what extent, pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps, to determine what purpose they are using them for, and to identify gaps in available technology to provide guidance for future technological development. METHODS Pediatric SLPs completed an online survey containing five sections: demographics, overall use, use in assessment, use in intervention, barriers, and future directions. RESULTS Mobile app use by 485 pediatric SLPs in the clinical setting was analyzed. Most (364/438; 83.1%) pediatric SLPs reported using technology ≤50% of the time in their clinical work, with no differences evident by age group (<35 years and ≥35 years; <italic>P</italic>=.97). Pediatric SLPs are currently using apps for intervention (399/1105; 36.1%), clinical information (241/1105; 21.8%), parent education (151/1105; 13.7%), assessment (132/1105; 12%), client education (108/1105; 9.8%), and other uses (55/1105; 5.0%). Cost (46/135; 34.1%) and lack of an evidence base (36/135; 26.7%) were the most frequently reported barriers. Most SLPs (268/380; 70.7%) desired more technology use, with no difference evident by age group (<italic>P</italic>=.81). CONCLUSIONS A majority of pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps less than 50% of the time in a pediatric setting and they use them more during intervention compared to assessment. While pediatric SLPs are hesitant to add to their client’s screen time, they would like more apps to be developed that are supported by research and are less expensive. Implications for future research and app development are also discussed.

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Demystifying the Effect of Flow Experience for Mobile App-based E-Services

International Journal of E-Services and Mobile Applications ◽

10.4018/ijesma.2022010104 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 0-0

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Marketing Mix ◽

Mobile App ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Flow Experience ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Privacy Concern ◽

Experience Marketing ◽

Subsequent Effect

The purpose of this paper is to understand the consumer behavior by investigating the effect of flow experience and marketing mix on consumers continued intention to use e-services provided through mobile applications and subsequent effect on consumers loyalty. The study also tests through a moderated mediation approach, the mediation of continued intention to use between flow experience-marketing mix and consumers loyalty while considering the moderating role of e-trust and privacy concern with the application. An online survey was conducted to collect data from the consumers, obtaining 405 valid samples which were analyzed using multiple regression to test the conceptual model of this study. The findings support that flow experience in mobile apps increases consumes intention to use, which is a significant predictor for consumer loyalty for services availed through mobile apps. This study provides insights for the marketers to build the flow in the mobile apps with interactive features, aesthetic design and ease of use to drive for continued intention to use and loyalty.

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Predicting Public Uptake of Digital Contact Tracing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey in Singapore

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/24730 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. e24730

Author(s):

Young Ern Saw ◽

Edina Yi-Qin Tan ◽

Jessica Shijia Liu ◽

Jean CJ Liu

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

National Level ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Primary Outcome Measure ◽

Mobile App ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Data Set ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Pandemic Severity

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, new digital solutions have been developed for infection control. In particular, contact tracing mobile apps provide a means for governments to manage both health and economic concerns. However, public reception of these apps is paramount to their success, and global uptake rates have been low. Objective In this study, we sought to identify the characteristics of individuals or factors potentially associated with voluntary downloads of a contact tracing mobile app in Singapore. Methods A cohort of 505 adults from the general community completed an online survey. As the primary outcome measure, participants were asked to indicate whether they had downloaded the contact tracing app TraceTogether introduced at the national level. The following were assessed as predictor variables: (1) participant demographics, (2) behavioral modifications on account of the pandemic, and (3) pandemic severity (the number of cases and lockdown status). Results Within our data set, the strongest predictor of the uptake of TraceTogether was the extent to which individuals had already adjusted their lifestyles because of the pandemic (z=13.56; P<.001). Network analyses revealed that uptake was most related to the following: using hand sanitizers, avoiding public transport, and preferring outdoor over indoor venues during the pandemic. However, demographic and situational characteristics were not significantly associated with app downloads. Conclusions Efforts to introduce contact tracing apps could capitalize on pandemic-related behavioral adjustments among individuals. Given that a large number of individuals is required to download contact tracing apps for contact tracing to be effective, further studies are required to understand how citizens respond to contact tracing apps. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04468581, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04468581

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Examining antecedents affecting Indian consumers’ adoption of mobile apps

Innovative Marketing ◽

10.21511/im.16(3).2020.09 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 98-112

Author(s):

Neerja Arora ◽

Garima Malik

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Mobile App ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Perceived Ease Of Use ◽

Personal Innovativeness ◽

Indian Consumers ◽

Convenience Sampling ◽

Customer Satisfaction And Loyalty

This research aims to integrate the functional, social, security, and personal dimensions to study mobile app usage antecedents in the Northern Capital Region of India. Convenience sampling was used, and an online survey resulted in 407 valid responses. The measurement and structural models were estimated using PLS-SEM. Perceived usefulness and social influence had no significant impact on usage, implying that contemporary consumers are much more discerning and do not get swayed by the benefits offered or the influence of those around them. The findings show that perceived ease of use had a significant impact on perceived usefulness and attitude formation. Since security is the most important factor determining usage and trust, the industry should have stringent standards to maintain security protocols in every interaction with the user. Also, security concerns need to be allayed, and grievances need to be resolved immediately to gain customer satisfaction and loyalty. Personal innovativeness and lifestyle compatibility are important determinants of attitude and usage. Firms should target mobile apps to students and the active working population who possess innovativeness and for whom mobile apps are compatible with their lifestyle. These users can act as influencers and help in improving their adoption.

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Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists’ Use of Mobile Health Technology: Qualitative Questionnaire Study

JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies ◽

10.2196/13966 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e13966

Author(s):

Kelsey Thompson ◽

Emily Zimmerman

Keyword(s):

Parent Education ◽

Technology Use ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Clinical Work ◽

The United States ◽

Mobile App ◽

Future Research ◽

Age Group ◽

Speech Language Pathologists

Background While technology use in pediatric therapies is increasing, there is so far no research available focusing on how pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States use technology. Objective This paper sought to determine if, and to what extent, pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps, to determine what purpose they are using them for, and to identify gaps in available technology to provide guidance for future technological development. Methods Pediatric SLPs completed an online survey containing five sections: demographics, overall use, use in assessment, use in intervention, barriers, and future directions. Results Mobile app use by 485 pediatric SLPs in the clinical setting was analyzed. Most (364/438; 83.1%) pediatric SLPs reported using technology ≤50% of the time in their clinical work, with no differences evident by age group (<35 years and ≥35 years; P=.97). Pediatric SLPs are currently using apps for intervention (399/1105; 36.1%), clinical information (241/1105; 21.8%), parent education (151/1105; 13.7%), assessment (132/1105; 12%), client education (108/1105; 9.8%), and other uses (55/1105; 5.0%). Cost (46/135; 34.1%) and lack of an evidence base (36/135; 26.7%) were the most frequently reported barriers. Most SLPs (268/380; 70.7%) desired more technology use, with no difference evident by age group (P=.81). Conclusions A majority of pediatric SLPs are using mobile apps less than 50% of the time in a pediatric setting and they use them more during intervention compared to assessment. While pediatric SLPs are hesitant to add to their client’s screen time, they would like more apps to be developed that are supported by research and are less expensive. Implications for future research and app development are also discussed.

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Emotions and continued usage of mobile applications

Industrial Management & Data Systems ◽

10.1108/imds-11-2014-0338 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 115 (5) ◽

pp. 833-852 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Yi Ding ◽

Kah Hin Chai

Keyword(s):

Mobile Applications ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Mobile App ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Continuance Intention ◽

Content Type

Purpose – A pressing issue with mobile applications (apps) is continued use. The expectancy disconfirmation theory is employed as the theoretical basis for most studies on continuance. Recognising the experiential aspects of using mobile apps, the purpose of this paper is to extend the existing disconfirmation model to account for the emotional experiences and their influences on continuance. In particular, the authors are interested in the factors that drive the experience of emotions, and how these cognitive drivers differ in shaping distinct emotional experiences (i.e. positive vs negative). Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modelling was applied on 271 valid responses collected from an online survey conducted among mobile app users. Findings – Disconfirmation affects emotions in a non-linear fashion through arousal, and both positive and negative emotions influence continuance intention. Furthermore, positive emotions tend to be influenced by inherent benefits, whereas negative emotions are more likely to be influenced by instrumental benefits. Research limitations/implications – The generalisability of this study may be enhanced by collecting data from more diverse samples and validating the model on more mobile app categories. Originality/value – This study progresses from the demonstration of a mere impact of emotions on continuance as in several recent empirical inquiries to more nuanced understandings of the role of emotions in forming continuance intention.

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Predicting Public Uptake of Digital Contact Tracing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey in Singapore (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24730 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Young Ern Saw ◽

Edina Yi-Qin Tan ◽

Jessica Shijia Liu ◽

Jean CJ Liu

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

National Level ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Primary Outcome Measure ◽

Mobile App ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Data Set ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Pandemic Severity

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, new digital solutions have been developed for infection control. In particular, contact tracing mobile apps provide a means for governments to manage both health and economic concerns. However, public reception of these apps is paramount to their success, and global uptake rates have been low. OBJECTIVE In this study, we sought to identify the characteristics of individuals or factors potentially associated with voluntary downloads of a contact tracing mobile app in Singapore. METHODS A cohort of 505 adults from the general community completed an online survey. As the primary outcome measure, participants were asked to indicate whether they had downloaded the contact tracing app TraceTogether introduced at the national level. The following were assessed as predictor variables: (1) participant demographics, (2) behavioral modifications on account of the pandemic, and (3) pandemic severity (the number of cases and lockdown status). RESULTS Within our data set, the strongest predictor of the uptake of TraceTogether was the extent to which individuals had already adjusted their lifestyles because of the pandemic (z=13.56; <i>P</i><.001). Network analyses revealed that uptake was most related to the following: using hand sanitizers, avoiding public transport, and preferring outdoor over indoor venues during the pandemic. However, demographic and situational characteristics were not significantly associated with app downloads. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to introduce contact tracing apps could capitalize on pandemic-related behavioral adjustments among individuals. Given that a large number of individuals is required to download contact tracing apps for contact tracing to be effective, further studies are required to understand how citizens respond to contact tracing apps. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04468581, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04468581

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Mobile Apps Use and WOM in the Food Delivery Sector: The Role of Planned Behavior, Perceived Security and Customer Lifestyle Compatibility

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12104275 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 4275 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Daniel Belanche ◽

Marta Flavián ◽

Alfredo Pérez-Rueda

Keyword(s):

Planned Behavior ◽

Perceived Control ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Food Delivery ◽

Mobile App ◽

Perceived Security ◽

Managerial Implications ◽

Delivery Services ◽

Post Hoc

This research examines the phenomenon of food delivery services from the mobile app user’s perspective and how consumers’ lifestyles are changing because of the convenience provided by the apps. By means of an online survey targeted at US food delivery app customers, our study analyzes the main motivations that lead them to use and recommend these technology-based services. The results of the study revealed that some of the theory of planned behavior model variables (i.e., attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms), influence customer use and word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions. Security influences intention to spread WOM, whereas customer lifestyle compatibility influences intention to use the food delivery apps. A post hoc analysis revealed that perceived control is only important for older customers, who need to perceive that they control the apps before they will recommend them to other customers. The findings of the study are discussed and contrasted with previous research in the field. The managerial implications derived from the findings provide practical guidance for food delivery app companies. Further research avenues are suggested to encourage scholars to continue investigating the challenge of the diffusion of mobile apps in the food delivery and related sectors.

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