[Role of emotions and representations in the use of m-health among members of an online cancer-related community, the Seintinelles]

Abstract

Introduction: Virtual communities related to cancer, as with other chronic pathologies, seem to constitute a population likely to have a privileged relationship with e-health technologies. However, although many studies have sought to identify the characteristics of e-health users, none has focused specifically on members of health-related virtual communities. The objective is to identify the psychosocial determinants of the use of connected objects and health applications (COAs) among members of an online community of interest in cancer, the Seintinelles.

Methods: Data collection was performed using a self-questionnaire aiming to collect sociodemographic and psychosocial data.

Results: Only a minority of participants owned at least one COA. Positive emotions and the perception of COAs as a motivator to take care of one's health favored their adoption. Considering COASs as aimed toward ill people or perceiving them as complex are barriers to their use.

Discussion: Participants do not seem to have a privileged relationship with COAs. Reinforcing a sense of self-efficacy and ensuring that mobile devices and health apps elicit positive emotions in potential users is an essential step in facilitating the use of m-health from a health promotion perspective among individuals who are members of such virtual communities related to cancer.

Keywords: Applications de santé; Communauté virtuelle; Health apps; Mobile health devices; Objets connectés; Santé connectée; Virtual community; e-santé; m-Health.