Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DA, United Kingdom, 44 07940058826.
Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 Oct 24;11:e57338. doi: 10.2196/57338.
Digital health interventions (DHIs) could support prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease. However, those who may benefit most often experience barriers to awareness and adoption of these interventions.
Among South Asian individuals, we evaluated user experience of DHIs for prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease, aiming to understand barriers and facilitators to initial and ongoing use.
Among South Asian individuals recruited via primary care, community organizations, and snowball methods (n=18), we conducted "think-aloud" interviews using a reflective and reactive approach. Participants included nonusers, as well as those that used a range of DHIs as part of monitoring and improving their health. Participants were asked to think aloud while completing a task they routinely do in a familiar DHI, as well as while setting up and completing a search task in a novel DHI; they were encouraged to behave as if unobserved.
Lack of cultural specificity was highlighted as reducing relevance and usability, particularly relating to dietary change. Preferred features reflected individual health beliefs and behaviors, digital skills, and trust in DHIs. For example, tracking blood glucose was considered by some to be positive, while for others it caused distress and anxiety. Similarly, some users found the novel DHI to be extremely simple to set up and use, and others grew frustrated navigating through initial interfaces. Many participants raised concerns about data privacy and needing to agree to terms and conditions that they did not understand. Participants expressed that with information and support from trusted sources, they would be interested in using DHIs as part of self-management.
DHIs may support South Asians to prevent and manage cardiometabolic disease, but it is important to consider the needs of specific user groups in DHI development, design, and implementation. Despite motivation to make health changes, digital barriers are common. Cultural appropriateness and trusted sources (such as health care providers and community organizations) have roles in increasing awareness and enabling individuals to access and use DHIs.
数字健康干预措施（DHIs）可以支持心血管代谢疾病的预防和管理。然而，那些可能从中受益最多的人往往面临着对这些干预措施的认知和采用的障碍。
在南亚人群中，我们评估了用于预防和管理心血管代谢疾病的 DHIs 的用户体验，旨在了解初始使用和持续使用的障碍和促进因素。
通过初级保健、社区组织和滚雪球方法招募南亚人群（n=18），我们采用反思和反应方法进行了“思考 aloud”访谈。参与者包括非使用者，以及那些作为监测和改善健康的一部分使用各种 DHIs 的使用者。参与者被要求在完成一项他们在熟悉的 DHI 中经常做的任务时，以及在设置和完成一项新的 DHI 中的搜索任务时，边做边思考；他们被鼓励表现得好像无人在观察一样。
缺乏文化特异性被强调为降低相关性和可用性，特别是与饮食改变相关。首选功能反映了个人健康信念和行为、数字技能以及对 DHIs 的信任。例如，一些人认为跟踪血糖是积极的，而另一些人则感到痛苦和焦虑。同样，一些用户发现新的 DHI 非常易于设置和使用，而其他用户则在最初的界面导航中感到沮丧。许多参与者对数据隐私表示担忧，并需要同意他们不理解的条款和条件。参与者表示，在获得信任来源的信息和支持的情况下，他们有兴趣将 DHIs 作为自我管理的一部分使用。
DHIs 可以帮助南亚人预防和管理心血管代谢疾病，但在 DHI 的开发、设计和实施中，考虑特定用户群体的需求非常重要。尽管有改善健康的动机，但数字障碍很常见。文化适宜性和值得信赖的来源（如医疗保健提供者和社区组织）在提高认知度和使个人能够访问和使用 DHIs 方面发挥作用。
