mHealth Self-Report Monitoring Using the Technology Acceptance Model in Competitive Middle- and Long-Distance Runners: Qualitative Study of Long-Term Use Intentions (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: International middle-and long-distance running competitions attract millions of spectators in association with city races, world championships, and Olympic Games. It is therefore a major concern that ill health and pain as a result of sports overuse lead to numerous hours of lost training and decreased performance among competitive runners. Despite its potential for sustenance of performance, approval of mHealth self-report monitoring (mHSM) in this group of athletes has not been investigated. Objective: To explore individual and situational factors associated with acceptance of longterm mHSM among competitive runners. Methods: The study used qualitative research methods with the Technology Acceptance Model as the theoretical foundation. The study population included 20 middle-and longdistance runners competing at national and international levels. Two mHSM applications asking for health and training data from track and marathon runners were created on a platform for web survey development (Briteback AB