Unlocking the flow experience in apps: Fostering long‐term adoption for sustainable healthcare systems

Abstract

Mobile health apps are increasingly being recognized as effective tools for improving the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems. However, a major challenge faced by the industry is achieving long-term adoption of Apps. This is a critical issue because many apps are abandoned after only a few uses, and low adoption rates limit the potential impact of these apps on healthcare outcomes. In this paper, we examine this issue by integrating the Customer Value Theory and the Person-Artifact-Task model to study how the functional experience of app users, derived from technology features such as perceived ease of use, personalization, and usefulness, enables a state of flow through the users' hedonic and social experiences of recognition and attractiveness. We comprehensively measure the impact of the psychological state of flow in terms of users' cognitive, emotional, and conative responses. Our results indicate that the functional experience of users is central to achieving flow through hedonic and social experiences, while other antecedents of flow, such as health severity and health empowerment, have a lower impact on app use. Developing a positive psychological response towards Apps is also essential to improve users' perception of health improvement, satisfaction, and loyalty. By understanding the factors that contribute to long-term adoption of apps, we can better design and promote these apps to improve healthcare outcomes and promote sustainable healthcare systems.

Workout with a Smartwatch: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Effects of Smartwatch Attributes on Flow Experience and Exercise Intentions Depending on Exercise Involvement

“…This interpretation is also supported by the literature on motivations for exercise that has suggested that social interaction with others is the main motivation for participation in exercise and physical activities [60][61][62]. Furthermore, as numerous studies have suggested that flow experience is a barometer and enhancer of the quality of a target task and thus is a powerful predictor of adherence to the task [25][26][27][28]39,[41][42][43][44]63,64], our study also found that both absorption and enjoyment (flow experience) positively affected exercise intention with smartwatches (H6). In other words, the more flow state an individual experiences during exercise with a smartwatch, the more likely he or she is to participate in and adhere to exercise and physical activities with the smartwatch.…”

“…The importance of flow experience has been highlighted in a wide range of contexts because it is strongly related to positive outcomes of exercise, including exercise satisfaction and intrinsic rewards, performance enhancement, health-related quality of life, perceived health improvement, mental health, well-being, and adherence to physical activities and exercise, among others [25][26][27][28][41][42][43][44]. Among these benefits of flow experience, in particular, the current study focused on the relationship between flow experience and intention to continuously engage in exercise using smartwatches due to its theoretical and practical implications in the field of healthcare.…”