Addressing gaps in equity through wearables

Harris, Maurita Tifquwana

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117788 Copy

Description

Title

Addressing gaps in equity through wearables

Author(s)

Harris, Maurita Tifquwana

Issue Date

2022-11-29

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Rogers, Wendy A

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Rogers, Wendy A

Committee Member(s)

• Morrow, Daniel G
• Mejia, Shannon T.
• Hale, Timothy M
• Harrington, Christina N.

Department of Study

Kinesiology & Community Health

Discipline

Community Health

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• technology adoption
• health equity
• smartwatch
• wearables
• design
• older adults
• technology usage
• technology non-use

Abstract

The Black population makes up approximately 14% of the total U.S. population. This group is relatively young but growing. Black older adults are likely to have chronic conditions, which are the leading causes of death in the Black population in the U.S. Additionally social determinants of health produce health disparities, such as lack of access to healthcare in a community. To support Black adults in taking control of their own health, wearables (i.e., fitness trackers and smartwatches) have the capability for them to monitor modifiable risk factors (e.g., fitness activity) that can lead to chronic conditions. Additionally, wearables can engage Black adults with their health and empower them to act. However, some technologies can exacerbate inequities when they enter the market due to the selling point being high. As such early adopters tend to be more affluent. The primary objective of this dissertation was to examine what facilitates the usage of wearables by Black adults so they can self-monitor their health. There were two overarching questions for this dissertation: 1. What technology adoption constructs are important to Black adults who are either users or non-users of wearables? 2. Given a supportive learning environment, how do Black adults who are new users engage with a smartwatch over time? To address these questions, there were two research studies. The first study consisted of semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 non-users and 16 users of wearables (i.e., smartwatches and wearable activity trackers). The interview was designed to evaluate technology adoption constructs, learning preferences, and participants’ ideas about a wearable designed for their needs. The users and non-users both saw the potential of wearables for health self-monitoring; they expressed minimal concerns about data accuracy, security, and privacy; and they believed that the wearable device would be easy to learn and potentially compatible with their lives. The users had been motivated to use wearables for a variety of reasons such as receiving them as a gift or prize; started using them for communication, or specifically wanting to monitor their health. The non-users expressed interest in using one in the future. Insights from these interviews supported the foundational development for the second study, which used a case study approach to gather in-depth information regarding smartwatch adoption from six non-users from study 1 over four weeks. The study was designed to provide the optimal facilitating conditions to support initial use, including instructions, individual feedback, guidance, and social support. All six participants were able to learn to use the device but used it differently. Their experiences provide guidance for the development of use cases that can inform community health and technology development. For example, participants may be motivated to use a device but need support in learning (tailored to their preferences) and information about how to use the device to guide their health behaviors. The results of this dissertation indicated that some Black adults do want to use wearables and they see the potential benefits. This finding is in contrast to previous literature (e.g., Still et al., 2018) suggesting an unwillingness of Black older adults to utilize health care technologies. Future research will need to explore the use of wearables for a broader range of Black adults. Moreover, the potential of providing facilitating conditions should be explored as a community health program to address gaps in equity.

Graduation Semester

2022-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Maurita Harris

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