User Perceptions of eHealth and mHealth Services Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Diets: Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Physical activity and a diet that follows general recommendations can help to prevent noncommunicable diseases. However, most adults do not meet current recommended guidelines, and support for behavior change needs to be strengthened. There is growing evidence that shows the benefits of eHealth and mobile health (mHealth) services in promoting healthy habits; however, their long-term effectiveness is uncertain because of nonadherence. Objective We aimed to explore users’ perceptions of acceptability, engagement, and usability of eHealth and mHealth services that promote physical activity, healthy diets, or both in the primary or secondary prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Methods We conducted a systematic review with a narrative synthesis. We performed the literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL electronic databases in February 2021 and July 2021. The search was limited to papers published in English between 2016 and 2021. Papers on qualitative and mixed method studies that encompassed eHealth and mHealth services for adults with a focus on physical activity, healthy diet, or both in the primary or secondary prevention of noncommunicable diseases were included. Three authors screened the studies independently, and 2 of the authors separately performed thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results With an initial finding of 6308 articles and the removal of 427 duplicates, 23 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in the review. Based on users’ preferences, an overarching theme—eHealth and mHealth services provide value but need to be tailored to individual needs—and 5 subthemes—interactive and integrated; varying and multifunctional; easy, pedagogic, and attractive; individualized and customizable; and reliable—emerged. Conclusions New evidence on the optimization of digital services that promote physical activity and healthy diets has been synthesized. The findings represent users’ perceptions of acceptability, engagement, and usability of eHealth and mHealth services and show that services should be personalized, dynamic, easily manageable, and reliable. These findings can help improve adherence to digital health-promoting services.

Workers’ perceptions of mHealth services for physical activity and mental health: A qualitative study using a text-mining method

“…Overall, participants agreed that physical activity was effective in improving mental health. This was consistent with previous findings [12][13][14] that users needed research for individualized or tailored mHealth services. The following unique themes were also estimated: limited effects of non-leisure physical activity on mental health, lower priority on physical activity rather than sleep and rest, reluctance to share the data within the groups, and difficulties in wearing the devices to measure physical activity due to work rules.…”

“…As recommended by previous findings, mHealth services for physical activity and mental should also focus on individualization, attraction, and ease of use. Compared with previous systematic reviews [12][13][14] , workers also needed mHealth services to be tailored and individualized. Their perception that messages should be changed according to their occupation might be the primary factor to be tailored, and it was supported by the previous finding that levels of physical activity vary by occupation 23) .…”

“…Overall, individualized services appear to enhance users' acceptability, engagement, and usability 12) . Additionally, reliable, trustworthy, interactive, multifunctional, easy, attractive, and gamified services can motivate individuals to adhere to mHealth interventions to promote physical activity [12][13][14] . However, there is no summarized qualitative data on workers' perceptions of mHealth services for physical activity to improve mental health.…”

“…Previous systematic reviews have summarized qualitative data on the perceptions, beliefs, and experiences of users of mHealth services that promote physical activity [12][13][14] .…”

Perspectives on Promoting Physical Activity Using eHealth in Primary Care by Health Care Professionals and Individuals With Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Qualitative Study

“…Similarly, a recent review found that consumers see opportunities to use eHealth to promote physical activity and healthy dietary behaviors. However, the study elicited that several points need to be considered to optimize eHealth tools [ 42 ], which includes considering a logical and practical approach rather than pure theoretical principles [ 32 ].…”