event-icon
Description

This study offers a description of factors that predict the adoption of mobile health technologies (mHealth) and their application for health self-management in emerging adults. Primary data collection occurred at three diverse post-secondary educational institutions (N= 1,329). The analysis used a logistic regression to identify predictors of mHealth adoption. Descriptive analyses are presented on health self-management applications and perceived ease of use and effectiveness. Use of mHealth was high in respondents (58.5%). Factors associated with increased likelihood of mHealth adoption included being female, overweight or obese, having a chronic condition, eating the recommended amount of daily fruit, and engaging in regular moderate exercise. Low household income was associated with being less likely to use mHealth. The most common self-management application for mHealth was for tracking physical activity. Findings related to ease of use and effectiveness ratings by applications may provide insight into designing more effective mHealth tools in this population.

Learning Objective: After participating in this session, the learner should be better able to:
-Understand the important opporunity for innovative mHealth interventions in emerging adulthood, a critical period of development.
-Learn the factors that influence mHealth adoption and sustained use in emerging adults.
-Describe how the technology acceptance model can be used to predict the sustained use and benefit of mHealth technologies.
-Learn how mHealth technologies are being leveraged by emerging adults for health self-management, or the skills, knowledge, and behavior to manage one's health on a day-to-day basis.
-Explore opportunities for designing mHealth interventions to improve prevention efforts in emerging adulthood.

Authors:

Connor Drake (Presenter)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health

Meagan Cannady, Duke University School of Medicine
Kathryn Howley, Duke University School of Medicine
Christopher Shea, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health
Ralph Snyderman, Duke University School of Medicine

Presentation Materials:

Tags