scholarly journals Barriers to and Facilitators of the Use of Mobile Health Apps From a Security Perspective: Mixed-Methods Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Jie Bao ◽  
Valerie Watzlaf ◽  
Bambang Parmanto
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND A large number of mobile health (mHealth) apps have been created to help users to manage their health or receive health care services. Many of these mHealth apps have proven to be helpful for maintaining or improving their users’ health. However, many people still choose not to use mHealth apps or only use them for a short period. One of the reasons behind this lack of use is the concern for their health information security and privacy. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between users’ characteristics and their security and privacy concerns and to identify desired security features in mHealth apps, which could reduce these concerns. METHODS A questionnaire was designed and validated by the research team. This questionnaire was then used to determine mobile app users’ security and privacy concerns regarding personal health data in mHealth apps as well as the security features most users’ desire. A semistructured interview was used to identify barriers to and facilitators of adopting mHealth apps. RESULTS In total, 117 randomly selected study participants from a large pool took part in this study and provided responses to the validated questionnaire and the semistructured interview questions. The results indicate that most study participants did have concerns about their privacy when using mHealth apps. They also expressed their preferences regarding several security features in mHealth apps, such as regular password updates, remote wipe, user consent, and access control. An association between their demographic characteristics and their concerns and preferences in security and privacy was identified; however, in most cases, the differences among the different demographic groups were not statistically significant, except for a few very specific aspects. These study participants also indicated that the cost of apps and lack of security features in mHealth apps were barriers for adoption, whereas having free apps, strong but easy-to-use security features, and clear user protection privacy policies might encourage them to use mHealth apps in their health management. CONCLUSIONS This questionnaire and interview study verified the security and privacy concerns of mHealth app users, identified the desired security and privacy features, and determined specific barriers to and facilitators of users adopting mHealth apps. The results can be used to guide mHealth app developers to create apps that would be welcomed by users.

scholarly journals Developing a Heart Transplantation Self-Management Support Mobile Health App in Taiwan: Qualitative Study

10.2196/18999 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e18999
Author(s):  
Yi-Wen Chen ◽  
Jeng Wei ◽  
Hwei-Ling Chen ◽  
Ching-Hui Cheng ◽  
I-Ching Hou
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Heart Transplantation ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Quality ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Heart transplantation (HTx) is the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure patients. After transplantation, patients face physiological, psychological, social, and other health care problems. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can change the delivery of conventional health care to ubiquitous care and improve health care quality. However, a dearth of mHealth apps exists for patients with HTx worldwide, including in Taiwan. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the information needed and to develop a preliminary framework for an mHealth app for post-HTx patients. Methods A qualitative approach with individual in-depth interviews was conducted at a heart center in the regional hospital of northern Taiwan from June to November 2017. Patients that had undergone HTx and their health professionals were recruited for purposeful sampling. A semistructured interview guideline was used for individual interviews and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results A total of 21 subjects, including 17 patients and 4 health professionals, were recruited for the study. The following five major themes were identified: reminding, querying, experience sharing, diet, and expert consulting. Minor themes included a desire to use the app with artificial intelligence and integration with professional management. Conclusions An intelligent mHealth app that addresses the five main themes and integrates the processes of using a mobile app could facilitate HTx self-management for Taiwanese patients.

scholarly journals Developing a Heart Transplantation Self-Management Support Mobile Health App in Taiwan: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Wen Chen ◽  
Jeng Wei ◽  
Hwei-Ling Chen ◽  
Ching-Hui Cheng ◽  
I-Ching Hou
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Heart Transplantation ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Quality ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Heart transplantation (HTx) is the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure patients. After transplantation, patients face physiological, psychological, social, and other health care problems. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can change the delivery of conventional health care to ubiquitous care and improve health care quality. However, a dearth of mHealth apps exists for patients with HTx worldwide, including in Taiwan. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the information needed and to develop a preliminary framework for an mHealth app for post-HTx patients. METHODS A qualitative approach with individual in-depth interviews was conducted at a heart center in the regional hospital of northern Taiwan from June to November 2017. Patients that had undergone HTx and their health professionals were recruited for purposeful sampling. A semistructured interview guideline was used for individual interviews and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS A total of 21 subjects, including 17 patients and 4 health professionals, were recruited for the study. The following five major themes were identified: reminding, querying, experience sharing, diet, and expert consulting. Minor themes included a desire to use the app with artificial intelligence and integration with professional management. CONCLUSIONS An intelligent mHealth app that addresses the five main themes and integrates the processes of using a mobile app could facilitate HTx self-management for Taiwanese patients.

scholarly journals The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ): Development and Validation Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Jie Bao ◽  
I Made Agus Setiawan ◽  
Andi Saptono ◽  
Bambang Parmanto
Keyword(s):  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Target User ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
System Usability ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Development And Validation ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND After a mobile health (mHealth) app is created, an important step is to evaluate the usability of the app before it is released to the public. There are multiple ways of conducting a usability study, one of which is collecting target users’ feedback with a usability questionnaire. Different groups have used different questionnaires for mHealth app usability evaluation: The commonly used questionnaires are the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). However, the SUS and PSSUQ were not designed to evaluate the usability of mHealth apps. Self-written questionnaires are also commonly used for evaluation of mHealth app usability but they have not been validated. OBJECTIVE The goal of this project was to develop and validate a new mHealth app usability questionnaire. METHODS An mHealth app usability questionnaire (MAUQ) was designed by the research team based on a number of existing questionnaires used in previous mobile app usability studies, especially the well-validated questionnaires. MAUQ, SUS, and PSSUQ were then used to evaluate the usability of two mHealth apps: an interactive mHealth app and a standalone mHealth app. The reliability and validity of the new questionnaire were evaluated. The correlation coefficients among MAUQ, SUS, and PSSUQ were calculated. RESULTS In this study, 128 study participants provided responses to the questionnaire statements. Psychometric analysis indicated that the MAUQ has three subscales and their internal consistency reliability is high. The relevant subscales correlated well with the subscales of the PSSUQ. The overall scale also strongly correlated with the PSSUQ and SUS. Four versions of the MAUQ were created in relation to the type of app (interactive or standalone) and target user of the app (patient or provider). A website has been created to make it convenient for mHealth app developers to use this new questionnaire in order to assess the usability of their mHealth apps. CONCLUSIONS The newly created mHealth app usability questionnaire—MAUQ—has the reliability and validity required to assess mHealth app usability.

scholarly journals Making Self-Management Mobile Health Apps Accessible to People With Disabilities: Qualitative Single-Subject Study

10.2196/15060 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e15060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Andi Saptono ◽  
I Made Agus Setiawan ◽  
Bambang Parmanto
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Over the past decade, a large number of mobile health (mHealth) apps have been created to help individuals to better manage their own health. However, very few of these mHealth apps were specifically designed for people with disabilities, and only a few of them have been assessed for accessibility for people with disabilities. As a result, people with disabilities have difficulties using many of these mHealth apps. Objective The objective of this study was to identify an approach that can be generally applied to improve the accessibility of mHealth apps. Methods We recruited 5 study participants with a primary diagnosis of cerebral palsy or spinal cord injury. All the participants had fine motor impairment or lack of dexterity, and hence, they had difficulties using some mHealth apps. These 5 study participants were first asked to use multiple modules in the client app of a novel mHealth system (iMHere 2.0), during which their performance was observed. Interviews were conducted post use to collect study participants’ desired accessibility features. These accessibility features were then implemented into the iMHere 2.0 client app as customizable options. The 5 participants were asked to use the same modules in the app again, and their performance was compared with that in the first round. A brief interview and a questionnaire were then performed at the end of the study to collect the 5 participants’ comments and impression of the iMHere 2.0 app in general and of the customizable accessibility features. Results Study results indicate that the study participants on their first use of the iMHere 2.0 client app experienced various levels of difficulty consistent with the severity of their lack of dexterity. Their performance was improved after their desired accessibility features were added into the app, and they liked the customizable accessibility features. These participants also expressed an interest in using this mHealth system for their health self-management tasks. Conclusions The accessibility features identified in this study improved the accessibility of the mHealth app for people with dexterity issues. Our approach for improving mHealth app accessibility may also be applied to other mHealth apps to make those apps accessible to people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Usability of Mobile Health Apps for Postoperative Care: Systematic Review

10.2196/19099 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e19099
Author(s):  
Ben Patel ◽  
Arron Thind
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Mobile health (mHealth) apps are increasingly used postoperatively to monitor, educate, and rehabilitate. The usability of mHealth apps is critical to their implementation. Objective This systematic review evaluates the (1) methodology of usability analyses, (2) domains of usability being assessed, and (3) results of usability analyses. Methods The A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews checklist was consulted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline was adhered to. Screening was undertaken by 2 independent reviewers. All included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Domains of usability were compared with the gold-standard mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). Results A total of 33 of 720 identified studies were included for data extraction. Of the 5 included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), usability was never the primary end point. Methodology of usability analyses included interview (10/33), self-created questionnaire (18/33), and validated questionnaire (9/33). Of the 3 domains of usability proposed in the MAUQ, satisfaction was assessed in 28 of the 33 studies, system information arrangement was assessed in 11 of the 33 studies, and usefulness was assessed in 18 of the 33 studies. Usability of mHealth apps was above industry average, with median System Usability Scale scores ranging from 76 to 95 out of 100. Conclusions Current analyses of mHealth app usability are substandard. RCTs are rare, and validated questionnaires are infrequently consulted. Of the 3 domains of usability, only satisfaction is regularly assessed. There is significant bias throughout the literature, particularly with regards to conflicts of interest. Future studies should adhere to the MAUQ to assess usability and improve the utility of mHealth apps.

scholarly journals Mobile Health Technology and Healthcare Providers: Systemic Barriers to Adoption

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-278
Author(s):  
Somayyeh Zakerabasali ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Ayyoubzadeh ◽  
Tayebeh Baniasadi ◽  
Azita Yazdani ◽  
Shahabeddin Abhari
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Privacy Concerns

Objectives: Despite the growing use of mobile health (mHealth), certain barriers seem to be hindering the use of mHealth applications in healthcare. This article presents a systematic review of the literature on barriers associated with mHealth reported by healthcare professionals.Methods: This systematic review was carried out to identify studies published from January 2015 to December 2019 by searching four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar). Studies were included if they reported perceived barriers to the adoption of mHealth from healthcare providers’ perspectives. Content analysis and categorization of barriers were performed based on a focus group discussion that explored researchers’ knowledge and experiences.Results: Among the 273 papers retrieved through the search strategy, 18 works were selected and 18 barriers were identified. The relevant barriers were categorized into three main groups: technical, individual, and healthcare system. Security and privacy concerns from the category of technical barriers, knowledge and limited literacy from the category of individual barriers, and economic and financial factors from the category of healthcare system barriers were chosen as three of the most important challenges related to the adoption of mHealth described in the included publications.Conclusions: mHealth adoption is a complex and multi-dimensional process that is widely implemented to increase access to healthcare services. However, it is influenced by various factors and barriers. Understanding the barriers to adoption of mHealth applications among providers, and engaging them in the adoption process will be important for the successful deployment of these applications.

scholarly journals Security and Privacy Concerns Regarding Genetic Data in Mobile Health Record Systems: An Empirical Study from Turkey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özlem Özkan ◽  
Yeşim Aydin Son ◽  
Arsev Umur Aydinoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Negative Experience ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Electronic Health

AbstractWith the increasing use of genetic testing and applications of bioinformatics in healthcare, genetic and genomic data needs to be integrated into electronic health systems. We administered a descriptive survey to 174 participants to elicit their views on the privacy and security of mobile health record systems and inclusion of their genetic data in these systems. A survey was implemented online and on site in two genetic diagnostic centres. Nearly half of the participants or their close family members had undergone genetic testing. Doctors constituted the only profession group that people trusted for the privacy of their health and genetic data; however, people chose to limit even their doctor’s access to their genetic/health records. The majority of the respondents preferred to keep full access for themselves. Several participants had negative experience or preconceptions about electronic health records: the medical reports of 9.7% of the respondents had been used or released without their consent, 15.1% stated that they avoided being tested due to violation risks, and 3.5% asked their doctors to enter a less embarrassing health status in their records. The participants wanted to see some regulations and security measurements before using any system for their health/genetic data. In addition, significantly more participants stating that storing genetic data in a mobile system was riskier compared to other health data. Furthermore, the comparative analysis revealed that being young, being a woman and having higher education were associated with having greater privacy concerns.

scholarly journals What Drives Young Vietnamese to Use Mobile Health Innovations? Implications for Health Communication and Behavioral Interventions (Preprint)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bach Xuan Tran ◽  
Melvyn WB Zhang ◽  
Huong Thi Le ◽  
Hinh Duc Nguyen ◽  
Long Hoang Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Mobile phone use in Vietnam has become increasingly popular in recent years, with youth (people aged 15-24 years) being one of the groups with the heaviest use. Health-related apps on mobile phones (mobile health [mHealth] apps) appear to be a feasible approach for disease and health management, especially for self-management. However, there has been a scarcity of research on mobile phone usage for health care among youth and adolescents. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify the patterns of usage of mobile phone apps and the preferences for functionalities of mobile phone-based health-related apps among Vietnamese youth. METHODS An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam in August to October 2015. Web-based respondent-driven sampling technique was adopted to recruit participants. The online questionnaire was developed and distributed using Google Forms. Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to investigate the difference in attitude and preference for mobile phone apps between the two genders. RESULTS Among 356 youths (age from 15 to 25 years) sampled, low prevalence was found of using mHealth apps such as beauty counseling (6.5%, 23/356), nutrition counseling (7.9%, 28/356), disease prevention (9.8%, 35/356), and disease treatment (7.6%, 27/356). The majority of users found the app(s) they used to be useful (72.7%, 48/356) and reported satisfaction with these apps (61.9%, 39/356). No significant differences were found between the genders in their perception of the usefulness of apps and their satisfaction with mobile health apps. Most of the participants (68.2%, 238/356) preferred apps which are conceptualized and designed to run on a mobile phone compared to Web-based apps, and 50% (176/356) preferred visual materials. Approximately 53.9% (188/356) reported that it was integral for the mobile phone apps to have a sharing/social network functionality. Participants with a higher perceived stress score and EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index were significantly less likely to use mHealth apps. CONCLUSIONS This study found a low proportion using mHealth-related mobile phone apps, but a high level of receptiveness and satisfaction among Vietnamese youth. Acceptance level and preferences toward mHealth apps as well as specifically preferred functionalities discovered in this study are essential not only in conceptualizing and developing appropriate mobile phone interventions targeting youth and adolescents, but also in the application of technically advanced solutions in disease prevention and health management.

scholarly journals Usability of Mobile Health Apps for Postoperative Care: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Patel ◽  
Arron Thind
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps are increasingly used postoperatively to monitor, educate, and rehabilitate. The usability of mHealth apps is critical to their implementation. OBJECTIVE This systematic review evaluates the (1) methodology of usability analyses, (2) domains of usability being assessed, and (3) results of usability analyses. METHODS The A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews checklist was consulted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline was adhered to. Screening was undertaken by 2 independent reviewers. All included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Domains of usability were compared with the gold-standard mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). RESULTS A total of 33 of 720 identified studies were included for data extraction. Of the 5 included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), usability was never the primary end point. Methodology of usability analyses included interview (10/33), self-created questionnaire (18/33), and validated questionnaire (9/33). Of the 3 domains of usability proposed in the MAUQ, satisfaction was assessed in 28 of the 33 studies, system information arrangement was assessed in 11 of the 33 studies, and usefulness was assessed in 18 of the 33 studies. Usability of mHealth apps was above industry average, with median System Usability Scale scores ranging from 76 to 95 out of 100. CONCLUSIONS Current analyses of mHealth app usability are substandard. RCTs are rare, and validated questionnaires are infrequently consulted. Of the 3 domains of usability, only satisfaction is regularly assessed. There is significant bias throughout the literature, particularly with regards to conflicts of interest. Future studies should adhere to the MAUQ to assess usability and improve the utility of mHealth apps.

scholarly journals Untold Stories in User-Centered Design of Mobile Health: Practical Challenges and Strategies Learned From the Design and Evaluation of an App for Older Adults With Heart Failure

10.2196/17703 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e17703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Philip Cornet ◽  
Tammy Toscos ◽  
Davide Bolchini ◽  
Romisa Rohani Ghahari ◽  
Ryan Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Practical Recommendations ◽  
Challenges And Strategies ◽  
User Centered

Background User-centered design (UCD) is a powerful framework for creating useful, easy-to-use, and satisfying mobile health (mHealth) apps. However, the literature seldom reports the practical challenges of implementing UCD, particularly in the field of mHealth. Objective This study aims to characterize the practical challenges encountered and propose strategies when implementing UCD for mHealth. Methods Our multidisciplinary team implemented a UCD process to design and evaluate a mobile app for older adults with heart failure. During and after this process, we documented the challenges the team encountered and the strategies they used or considered using to address those challenges. Results We identified 12 challenges, 3 about UCD as a whole and 9 across the UCD stages of formative research, design, and evaluation. Challenges included the timing of stakeholder involvement, overcoming designers’ assumptions, adapting methods to end users, and managing heterogeneity among stakeholders. To address these challenges, practical recommendations are provided to UCD researchers and practitioners. Conclusions UCD is a gold standard approach that is increasingly adopted for mHealth projects. Although UCD methods are well-described and easily accessible, practical challenges and strategies for implementing them are underreported. To improve the implementation of UCD for mHealth, we must tell and learn from these traditionally untold stories.

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