Challenges of Implementing an mHealth Application for Personalized Physical Activity Counselling in Primary Health Care: A Qualitative Study

• Main Authors: Wattanapisit A, Amaek W, Wattanapisit S, Tuangratananon T, Wongsiri S, Pengkaew P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-07-01
• Series: International Journal of General Medicine
• Subjects: counselling; mhealth; personalization; physical activity; primary health care
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/challenges-of-implementing-an-mhealth-application-for-personalized-phy-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM
• ISSN: 1178-7074

Apichai Wattanapisit,1,2 Waluka Amaek,3 Sanhapan Wattanapisit,4 Titiporn Tuangratananon,5 Sunton Wongsiri,6 Prasert Pengkaew7 1School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; 2Walailak University Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; 3College of Graduate Studies, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; 4Thasala Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; 5International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand; 6Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand; 7School of Informatics, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, ThailandCorrespondence: Apichai WattanapisitSchool of Medicine, Walailak University, 222, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80161, ThailandTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: A mobile health (mHealth) technology has the potential to facilitate personalized physical activity (PA) counselling. We aimed to explore the feasibility and challenges of implementing a newly developed mHealth application (PAC app) for personalized PA counselling.Material and Methods: A qualitative design employed a descriptive phenomenology approach. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) with primary health care (PHC) providers and were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach.Results: A total of 16 participants participated in four FGDs. Four major themes were found: application for personalized PA counselling, barriers to the use of the application by providers, patient involvement, and impact on PHC services.Discussion: The results showed that the new mHealth application can potentially facilitate PA counselling. However, its use in PHC settings requires an understanding of the context of service delivery; the challenges faced by providers and patients and effects on services must be considered.Conclusion: Future research should focus on the long-term use of PAC app and its impact on behavioral and health outcomes.Keywords: counselling, mHealth, personalization, physical activity, primary health care