Online Investigation Into M-Health Best Practices: An Analysis of Programs Using Mobile Technologies for Chronic Disease Management, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

摘要

The study involved the design and development of an online survey to identify best practices in mobile health (m-health) technology use and included a diverse sample of respondents (n=125) with a mean age of 38.94 (min 22, max 73, SD=11.246); 44.8% (n=56) U.S. born; and with 97.6% (n=122) having obtained a bachelor's through doctorate degree. The mean of consumer's ratings of m-health technology overall was 4.986, or close to a rating of 'Very Good' (min 3, max 6, SD= .771). Some 40% (n=50) of consumers rated the m-health technology as 'Accessible.';Backward stepwise regression showed that the primary outcome variable of consumer ratings of m-health technology was significantly predicted by less prior knowledge/skills required for consumers to be able to use the m-health technology (beta = -.169, SEB = -.244, p = .039) and higher range of responses for consumers to organization's m-health technology (beta =.383, SEB =.312, p =.009) [R2=.184, AdjR2=.159]---meaning that 15.9% of the variance was explained by the model]. The second primary outcome variable of provider ratings of m-health technology was significantly predicted by being employed (? = .884, SEB = .348, p = .005); less participants recruited or have utilized the m-health technology (beta =-.054, SE B = -.253, p =.039), and less prior knowledge/skills required for consumers to be able to use the m-health technology (beta = -.380, SEB = -.524, p = .000) [R2=.392, AdjR 2=.359---], meaning that 35.9% of the variance was explained by the model]. Finally, tThe third primary outcome variable of extent of training provided to consumers on m-health technology was significantly predicted by not being born in the United States (beta = -1.358, SEB = -.209, p =.034), and organization disseminated mobile technology (beta = 2.092, SEB = .315, p = .000) [R 2=.226, AdjR2=.206] --meaning that 20.6% of the variance was explained by the model].;Asked what organizations have discovered as best practices regarding m-health technology, as retrieved from consumer and provider feedback, the emerging themes included having: (1) user-friendly and accessible technology, (2) adding more functions, contents and services, (3) customizing and tailoring m-health technologies, and (4) making m-health technology interactive and engaging..