The Role of Information Technology Mindfulness in the Postadoption Stage of Using Personal Health Devices: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study in Mobile Health

Abstract

Background Although personal health devices (for example, smartwatches, fitness trackers and intelligent bracelets) offer great potential to monitor personal fitness and health parameters, many users discontinue using them after a few months. Thus, it is critical to study the postadoption behaviors of current users to enhance their engagement with personal health devices and use behaviors. However, there is little empirical research on the factors affecting users’ engagement in beneficial use behaviors. Mindfulness and identity are not new topics, but the applications of these concepts in the field of information systems are emerging themes. Information technology (IT) mindfulness has been conceptualized in previous studies; however, little is known about the antecedents and consequences of IT mindfulness in the mobile health (mHealth) context. Objective The main aim of this study is to explore both IT identity and IT mindfulness to develop a new ground for research in the domain of mHealth postadoption. Thus, we aim to explain why users should be fully mindful of their engagement with PHDs and what could be the consequences and implications. Methods This study proposes that IT mindfulness can play an important role in improving the use behaviors of users. Through a web-based survey with 450 current users of a personal health device, this paper tests the relationship between IT identity and IT mindfulness in the postadoption stage of using personal health devices. Results We found that IT identity significantly shapes IT mindfulness associated with PHDs. Moreover, the IT identity–IT mindfulness relationship is negatively moderated by individuals’ perceived health status (P=.003). Finally, the results of this study show that IT mindfulness can significantly predict automatic use behaviors (eg, continued intention to use), active use behaviors (eg, feature use and enhanced use behaviors), and commitment behaviors in using personal health devices (eg, positive word-of-mouth intention). Conclusions The findings of this study provide implications for both research and practice. This study can contribute to our current understanding of IT mindfulness by developing and empirically testing a research model that explains the determinants and outcomes of the IT mindfulness construct in the context of personal health devices. The results imply that IT mindfulness significantly helps individuals express their alertness, awareness, openness, and orientation in the present in their postadoption interactions with smart devices used for health care purposes. Finally, our findings may assist practitioners and IT developers in designing mindfulness-supporting PHDs. Owing to the impact of IT mindfulness on postadoption behaviors, its 4 dimensions could be used for developing PHD technologies. Moreover, PHD developers may need to direct their efforts toward increasing IT mindfulness by reinforcing IT identity to serve and retain a wide range of target users.

The Influence of Gamification and Information Technology Identity on Postadoption Behaviors of Health and Fitness App Users: Empirical Study in the United States

“…Previous studies indicate that using gamification elements may not be sufficiently exciting for users to continue using the apps without further motivation and reinforcement [ 12 ]. This is why many users discontinue using health-related apps (even gamified apps) after only a few months [ 13 ]. Thus, gamification mechanisms may encourage people to interact with the apps; however, they cannot necessarily guarantee continuous engagement of users with their health apps to control their health status or check personal health information.…”

“…Recent studies recognize a need for alternative theoretical perspectives to examine technological and individual factors in the postadoption stage of using IT [ 13 ]. For instance, the concept of IT identity, which reflects positive self-identification using familiar technology, can encourage positive IT usage [ 19 ].…”

Mindfulness in the Digital Workplace: an explorative study of the compatibility of mindfulness and technology

“…biofeedback) shows some effects on stress parameters and symptoms (Brinkmann et al, 2020;Lehrer & Gevirtz, 2014). Wearables such as biometricmeasuring smart watches hold promising innovation potential for future-oriented mindfulness training (Esmaeilzadeh, 2020;Hernando et al, 2018;Victorson et al, 2020). Coming from these insights, this study contributes to shedding light on the potential for employees and employers to date.…”