Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review

BackgroundThe advancements and abundance of mobile phones and portable health devices have created an opportunity to use mobile health (mHealth) for population health systems. There is increasing evidence for the feasibility and acceptance of mHealth with Indigenous populatio...

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Main Authors: Andrew Goodman, Ray Mahoney, Geoffrey Spurling, Sheleigh Lawler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2023-06-01
Series:JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Online Access:https://mhealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e45162
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author Andrew Goodman
Ray Mahoney
Geoffrey Spurling
Sheleigh Lawler
author_facet Andrew Goodman
Ray Mahoney
Geoffrey Spurling
Sheleigh Lawler
author_sort Andrew Goodman
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe advancements and abundance of mobile phones and portable health devices have created an opportunity to use mobile health (mHealth) for population health systems. There is increasing evidence for the feasibility and acceptance of mHealth with Indigenous populations. Providing a synthesis of qualitative findings of mHealth with Indigenous populations will gain insights into the strengths and challenges to mHealth use in Indigenous populations. ObjectiveThis review aimed to identify and synthesize qualitative data pertaining to the experiences and perceptions of mHealth from the perspectives of end users (patients and service providers) living in the colonial settler democracies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the Pacific Islands, and the Sápmi region of northern Europe. MethodsIn May 2021, systematic searches of peer-reviewed, scientific papers were conducted across the 5 databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Qualitative or mixed method studies were included where a mHealth intervention was the primary focus for responding to health challenges with Indigenous populations. Two authors independently screened papers for eligibility and assessed the risk of bias using a modified version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. A meta-aggregative approach was used to analyze the findings of included studies. ResultsSeventeen papers met the eligibility criteria, 8 studies with patients, 7 studies with service providers, and 2 studies that included both patients and service providers. Studies were conducted in Australia (n=10), Canada (n=2), New Zealand (n=2), Papua New Guinea (n=1), the United States (n=1), and Samoa (n=1). Our interpretation of these qualitative findings shows commonalities between Indigenous patients’ and service providers’ perceptions of mHealth. We summarize our findings in six themes: (1) mHealth literacy, (2) mHealth as a facilitator for connection and support, (3) mHealth content needed to be culturally relevant, (4) mHealth security and confidentiality, (5) mHealth supporting rather than replacing service providers, and (6) workplace and organizational capacity. ConclusionsThis research suggests that mHealth can meet the needs of both patients and service providers when the mHealth intervention is culturally relevant, accounts for digital and health literacy, incorporates interactive components, is supported by workplaces, fits into health provider workflows, and meets security and confidentiality standards. Future mHealth research with Indigenous populations should partner with key representatives (eg, patients, service providers, and executive leaders) in the mHealth design appropriate to the purpose, people, setting, and delivery.
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spelling doaj.art-0fa58ed773ef4e76b16938a7bd5ab0642023-08-29T00:06:40ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR mHealth and uHealth2291-52222023-06-0111e4516210.2196/45162Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic ReviewAndrew Goodmanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0385-1084Ray Mahoneyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6183-4071Geoffrey Spurlinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3525-4663Sheleigh Lawlerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5771-0551 BackgroundThe advancements and abundance of mobile phones and portable health devices have created an opportunity to use mobile health (mHealth) for population health systems. There is increasing evidence for the feasibility and acceptance of mHealth with Indigenous populations. Providing a synthesis of qualitative findings of mHealth with Indigenous populations will gain insights into the strengths and challenges to mHealth use in Indigenous populations. ObjectiveThis review aimed to identify and synthesize qualitative data pertaining to the experiences and perceptions of mHealth from the perspectives of end users (patients and service providers) living in the colonial settler democracies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the Pacific Islands, and the Sápmi region of northern Europe. MethodsIn May 2021, systematic searches of peer-reviewed, scientific papers were conducted across the 5 databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Qualitative or mixed method studies were included where a mHealth intervention was the primary focus for responding to health challenges with Indigenous populations. Two authors independently screened papers for eligibility and assessed the risk of bias using a modified version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. A meta-aggregative approach was used to analyze the findings of included studies. ResultsSeventeen papers met the eligibility criteria, 8 studies with patients, 7 studies with service providers, and 2 studies that included both patients and service providers. Studies were conducted in Australia (n=10), Canada (n=2), New Zealand (n=2), Papua New Guinea (n=1), the United States (n=1), and Samoa (n=1). Our interpretation of these qualitative findings shows commonalities between Indigenous patients’ and service providers’ perceptions of mHealth. We summarize our findings in six themes: (1) mHealth literacy, (2) mHealth as a facilitator for connection and support, (3) mHealth content needed to be culturally relevant, (4) mHealth security and confidentiality, (5) mHealth supporting rather than replacing service providers, and (6) workplace and organizational capacity. ConclusionsThis research suggests that mHealth can meet the needs of both patients and service providers when the mHealth intervention is culturally relevant, accounts for digital and health literacy, incorporates interactive components, is supported by workplaces, fits into health provider workflows, and meets security and confidentiality standards. Future mHealth research with Indigenous populations should partner with key representatives (eg, patients, service providers, and executive leaders) in the mHealth design appropriate to the purpose, people, setting, and delivery.https://mhealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e45162
spellingShingle Andrew Goodman
Ray Mahoney
Geoffrey Spurling
Sheleigh Lawler
Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
title Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
title_full Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
title_fullStr Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
title_short Influencing Factors to mHealth Uptake With Indigenous Populations: Qualitative Systematic Review
title_sort influencing factors to mhealth uptake with indigenous populations qualitative systematic review
url https://mhealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e45162
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