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Understanding Usage of a Hybrid Website and Smartphone App for Weight Management: A Mixed-Methods Study
- Source :
- Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol 16, Iss 10, p e201 (2014)
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- JMIR Publications Inc., 2014.
-
Abstract
- Background: Advancements in mobile phone technology offer huge potential for enhancing the timely delivery of health behavior change interventions. The development of smartphone-based health interventions (apps) is a rapidly growing field of research, yet there have been few longitudinal examinations of how people experience and use these apps within their day-to-day routines, particularly within the context of a hybrid Web- and app-based intervention. Objective: This study used an in-depth mixed-methods design to examine individual variation in (1) impact on self-reported goal engagement (ie, motivation, self-efficacy, awareness, effort, achievement) of access to a weight management app (POWeR Tracker) when provided alongside a Web-based weight management intervention (POWeR) and (2) usage and views of POWeR Tracker. Methods: Thirteen adults were provided access to POWeR and were monitored over a 4-week period. Access to POWeR Tracker was provided in 2 alternate weeks (ie, weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4). Participants’ goal engagement was measured daily via self-report. Mixed effects models were used to examine change in goal engagement between the weeks when POWeR Tracker was and was not available and whether the extent of change in goal engagement varied between individual participants. Usage of POWeR and POWeR Tracker was automatically recorded for each participant. Telephone interviews were conducted and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to further explore participants’ experiences using POWeR and POWeR Tracker. Results: Access to POWeR Tracker was associated with a significant increase in participants’ awareness of their eating (β 1 =0.31, P =.04) and physical activity goals (β 1 =0.28, P =.03). The level of increase varied between individual participants. Usage data showed that participants used the POWeR website for similar amounts of time during the weeks when POWeR Tracker was (mean 29 minutes, SD 31 minutes) and was not available (mean 27 minutes, SD 33 minutes). POWeR Tracker was mostly accessed in short bursts (mean 3 minutes, SD 2 minutes) during convenient moments or moments when participants deemed the intervention content most relevant. The qualitative data indicated that nearly all participants agreed that it was more convenient to access information on-the-go via their mobiles compared to a computer. However, participants varied in their views and usage of the Web- versus app-based components and the informational versus tracking tools provided by POWeR Tracker. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that smartphones have the potential to improve individuals’ engagement with their health-related goals when used as a supplement to an existing online intervention. The perceived convenience of mobile access to information does not appear to deter use of Web-based interventions or strengthen the impact of app access on goal engagement. A mixed-methods design enabled exploration of individual variation in daily usage of the app-based tools. [J Med Internet Res 2014;16(10):e201]
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Adolescent
Health Behavior
education
Psychological intervention
Health Informatics
Context (language use)
lcsh:Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
computer.software_genre
Usage data
behavioral research
Young Adult
Humans
Health Education
Monitoring, Physiologic
mobile apps
mixed-methods
Self-efficacy
Original Paper
Internet
Multimedia
behavior
business.industry
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Body Weight
Behavior change
lcsh:RA1-1270
health
Middle Aged
Self Efficacy
program acceptability
Weight Reduction Programs
Mobile phone
lcsh:R858-859.7
Female
The Internet
Self Report
weight loss
Thematic analysis
business
Psychology
computer
qualitative research
Cell Phone
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14388871
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....08a550712be69dab8d111c22c2f4eacc