Understanding the Antecedents and Effects of mHealth App Use in Pandemics

A Sequential Mixed-Method Investigation

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15502012
AutoresXiaoling Jin (0000-0002-8185-4854, Shanghai University, autor correspondente), Zhangshuai Yuan (0000-0003-3682-3845, Shanghai University), Zhongyun Zhou (0000-0003-4245-8733, Tongji University)
Ano2023
Volume20
Fascículo1
Páginas834-834
Data de publicação2023-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditoraMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20010834
PMID36613156
OpenAlexW4313398716
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas52

Pandemics such as COVID-19 pose serious threats to public health and disrupt the established systems for obtaining healthcare services. Mobile health (mHealth) apps serve the general public as a potential method for coping with these exogenous challenges. However, prior research has rarely discussed the antecedents and effects of mHealth apps and their use as a coping method during pandemics. Based on the technology acceptance model, empowerment theory, and event theory, we developed a research model to examine the antecedents (technology characteristics and event strength) and effects (psychological empowerment) of mHealth apps and their use. We tested this research model through a sequential mixed-method investigation. First, a quantitative study based on 402 Chinese mHealth users who used the apps during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted to validate the theoretical model. A follow-up qualitative study of 191 online articles and reviews on mHealth during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted to cross-validate the results and explain the unsupported findings of the quantitative study. The results show that (1) the mHealth app characteristics (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) positively affect mHealth app use; (2) mHealth app use positively affects the psychological empowerment of mHealth users; and (3) the characteristics of pandemic events (event criticality and event disruption) have positive moderating effects on the relationship between mHealth app characteristics and mHealth app use. This study explains the role of mHealth apps in the COVID-19 pandemic on the micro-level, which has implications for the ways in which mHealth apps are used in response to public pandemics

Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Empowerment · Infectious disease (medical specialty · mHealth · Pandemic · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public health · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Psychology · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour