Exploring the Acceptability of Web-Based Health Modalities in Individuals With Hypertension: Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Hypertension is a major public health issue in low- and middle-income countries.
• Web-based health modalities offer potential solutions to improve healthcare access, especially in underserved communities.
• Community engagement with technology is key for the success of web-based health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate community members' past experiences, perceptions, and preferences regarding web-based health modalities for hypertension care.
• To understand factors influencing the adoption and use of digital health services for managing hypertension in an urban African setting.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews were conducted with community members in Soweto, South Africa, screened for elevated or high blood pressure (BP).
• The interview script was guided by the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model.
• Deductive thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes from the qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Forty interviews revealed four major themes: trust in web-based health professionals, comfort with technology for healthcare, experience with digital health services, and preference for in-person versus web-based interactions.
• Participants expressed openness to web-based health modalities but showed a preference for traditional in-person healthcare interactions.
• Lack of experience with web-based healthcare and familiarity with in-person services were primary reasons for this preference.

Conclusions:

• While receptive to digital health, participants favored in-person interactions for hypertension management.
• Further research is essential to explore how technology can effectively support future hypertension management strategies in urban African communities.