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Lookup NU author(s): Elke Warmerdam, Dr Christopher BullORCiD, Dr Kristen Davies, Dr Jan Dixon, Victoria Macrae
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2023.Objective: Digital devices have demonstrated benefits to patients with chronic and neurodegenerative diseases. But when patients use medical devices in their homes, the technologies have to fit into their lives. We investigated the technology acceptance of seven digital devices for home use. Methods: We conducted 60 semi-structured interviews with participants of a larger device study on their views on the acceptability of seven devices. Transcriptions were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, we evaluated effort, facilitating conditions, performance expectancy and social influence of each device. In the effort category, five themes emerged: (a) the hassle to use the device; (b) its usability; (c) comfort; (d) disturbance to daily life; and (e) problems during usage. Facilitating conditions consisted of five themes: (a) expectations regarding a device; (b) quality of the instructions; (c) insecurities with usage; (d) possibilities of optimization; and (e) possibilities to use the device longer. Regarding performance expectancy, we identified three themes: (a) insecurities with the performance of a device; (b) feedback; and (c) motivation for using a device. In the social influence category, three themes emerged: (a) reactions of peers; (b) concerns with the visibility of a device; and (c) concerns regarding data privacy. Conclusions: We identify key factors that determine the acceptability of medical devices for home use from the participants’ perspective. These include low effort of use, minor disruptions to their daily lives and good support from the study team.
Author(s): Graeber J, Warmerdam E, Aufenberg S, Bull C, Davies K, Dixon J, Emmert K, Judd C, Maetzler C, Reilmann R, Ng W-F, Macrae V, Maetzler W, Kaduszkiewicz H
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Digital Health
Year: 2023
Volume: 9
Online publication date: 04/05/2023
Acceptance date: 04/05/2023
Date deposited: 10/07/2023
ISSN (electronic): 2055-2076
Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231181239
DOI: 10.1177/20552076231181239
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