Facilitators of and barriers to the use of a computer-based self-monitoring system by type 2 diabetic and/or hypertensive patients

Background

Consumer health information technologies (IT) are being increasingly applied to improve access to self-care resources for individuals with chronic illnesses. Thus, it is important to identify the factors influencing the patients’ adoption or rejection of these technologies.

Objective

This study contributes to the literature on consumer health IT adoption by identifying the facilitators and barriers to the use of a computer-based chronic disease self-monitoring system by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews nested within a 3-month randomized controlled trial were conducted with 38 patients. Guided by the home care health IT implementation framework described in Or et al. (2009), their data were contented analyzed.

Results

The facilitators and barriers identified were organized around the six variable categories of the Health IT implementation framework, including patient attributes, technological characteristics, patient–technology interaction, home environment, organizational factors (e.g., influences, resources, and support), and patient outcomes.

Conclusions

Our study provides a holistic insight into the conceptualization of consumer health IT adoption by patients. When creating and implementing consumer health IT, taking into account the identified facilitators and barriers might boost the likelihood of technology adoption.