Abstract

Due to the significant prevalence of chronic illnesses in the United States, engaging patients in health promotion activities is imperative. mHealth apps have the ability to complement the family nurse practitioner's (FNP) prescribed care plan, and offer a user friendly, convenient method to promote healthy behaviors and lessen the prevalence of chronic disease. The purpose of this descriptive, quantitative study was to describe FNPs' intent to use and use of mHealth apps for health promotion with their patients using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and to determine the types and frequencies of apps recommended by FNPs. Data were collected using a survey, and participants comprised 303 FNPs from throughout the United States. Overall, FNPs reported that constructs of the UTAUT were positively related to behavioral intent and usage of mHealth apps as an adjunct to care. Nearly 70% of FNPs recommended some type of mHealth app to patients, but the frequency with which FNPs recommended apps to patients was low. Patient portal apps were recommended most
commonly by FNPs, followed by diet and nutrition apps and fitness apps. Although all of the UTAUT constructs influenced mHealth app use with patients, there are many considerations which may hinder app use in clinical practice, including app reliability, patient safety, data encryption, privacy, effects on FNP efficiency, and usability. As a new technology, there is a growing body of research surrounding mHealth apps. This study presents many implications for nursing practice, education and future research.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 10641001; ProQuest document ID: 1994162645. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Rebecca Coyle Mueller, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, BSN, RN

Sigma Membership

Delta Tau at-Large

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

mHealth Applications, Family Nurse Practitioners, Patient Health, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

Advisor

Nancy C. Sharts-Hopko

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Blunt

Third Advisor

John L. Batchelor

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Villanova University

Degree Year

2017

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2021-10-28

Full Text of Presentation

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