Coping with mHealth applications How chronically ill people experience mHealth applications
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2022-08-29
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en
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This Master thesis explores the behaviour of patients with a chronic disease and applies Mick and Fournier’s (1998) paradoxes of technology concept in the context of mHealth applications. The aim of this thesis is to discover what paradoxes can arise for patients during the use of mHealth applications when monitoring their chronic disease and how they deal with these tensions. Relevant literature has been evaluated and forms the theoretical basis for this thesis. By conducting semi-structured interviews, data is gathered and used to answer the research question. The sample consisted of thirteen interview respondents who all had a chronic disease and used mHealth applications to monitor it. As a result of this, the initial motivation of users, multiple paradoxes and two distinct coping mechanisms, each with its own subdivisions, and recommendations for mHealth technology have been identified. The paradoxes identified are: Order vs Disorder, Creating independence vs Creating dependence, New motivations vs Getting lost, Optimism vs Pessimism, Easy vs Difficult, Fulfils needs vs Creates needs, Connected vs Isolated and Encouragement vs Discouragement. It has been found that users apply coping mechanisms as a way to deal with the negative feelings these paradoxes can give. The coping mechanisms found can be divided into two categories: Avoidant and Confrontative. The Avoidant strategy consists of (temporary or permanent) Discontinuance and Distancing. The Confrontative strategy consists of Accommodation, Relationship and Dominating.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen