Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research

Introduction: With the digitalization of health, the emergence of new health technologies has been growing significantly, promoting not only a closer interaction between healthcare professionals and patients, but also the dissemination of updated and reliable information. The use of digital health services and tools requires, however, that those who use them not only have health literacy, but also skills, resources, and motivation to find, understand and evaluate health information when using them.
Goals and methods: Thus, with the aim of understanding the barriers, perceptions, and experiences regarding digital health technology use and access, a focus group study will be conducted with the general population. Participants will be recruited through patients’ associations and social media, and an informed consent form will be provided prior to participation in the study. This study will comprise 4-6 focus group sessions, with 8-10 participants each, and will follow the COREQ guidelines. Each session will then be transcribed verbatim and analyzed through content thematic analysis. This study will be conducted according to the GDPR and is under appreciation by the University of Aveiro’s Ethics and Deontology Council.
Expected results: We expect to shed light on the complex network of factors that influence the adoption and utilization of digital health technologies among the general population. Additionally, through the analysis of participants' perceptions and experiences, we aim to uncover the ways in which digital health technologies impact individuals' interactions with healthcare professionals and their overall health outcomes. We hope to identify patterns and themes that can inform the development of strategies sensitive to each populations' characteristics to address these barriers and promote equitable access to digital health tools.
Conclusions: Ultimately, the findings from this study have the potential to inform policies, healthcare practices, and technology design aimed at enhancing the accessibility, usability, and effectiveness of digital health solutions.