Claborn KR, Meier E, Miller MB, Leavens EL, Brett EI, Leffingwell T. (2018). Improving adoption and acceptability of digital health interventions for HIV disease management: A qualitative Study. Translational Behavioral Medicine. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibx025
Researchers recruited 24 patients and 12 providers from immunology centers and HIV/AIDS organizations to participate in focus groups to discuss perspectives on digital health interventions (DHI) for HIV management. Researchers coded focus group transcripts for perceived barriers and facilitators to DHI adoption. Providers identified a number of patient characteristics that could impact access to technology or perceived utility of DHIs, including attention span, motivation, literacy, social economic status, language, and age. Providers noted barriers could be mitigated through offering DHI in multiple languages and using multiple modes of technology (e.g. mobile, web). Patients and providers indicated that DHIs could be perceived as impersonal compared to in-person care. Patients and providers noted that the ability to upload or view testimonials about HIV experiences and in-person facilitation sessions with clinicians or peer mentors could improve DHI adoption. Patients wanted to use DHIs as an educational resource that they can view on their own time and show friends and family, but also expressed that information overload could be a barrier to adoption. Patients and providers reported that DHI could facilitate discussion of difficult topics and could improve the care patients receive. Stakeholders noted characteristics of DHI that could be barriers to adoption, including poor privacy and security of the DHI, length and frequency of DHI administration, and credibility of DHI.