JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

mHealth wearable devices are increasingly being adopted by individuals to help manage and monitor physiological signals. However, the current state of wearables does not consider the needs of low-socioeconomic status (SES) communities regarding price, accessibility, and usability. This is a critical issue that necessitates immediate attention and resolution.

Objective:

This study’s aims were threefold, to (1) understand how members of low-SES communities perceive mHealth wearable devices in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic, (2) what are the barriers and facilitators towards adoption, and (3) what are the design requirements for future wearable devices to enable equitable access for these communities.

Methods:

We performed semi-structured interviews with low-SES Hispanic/Latinx adults (N=19) from two metropolitan cities in the Midwest and west coast of the United States. Participants were asked questions about how they perceive wearables, what are the current benefits and barriers towards use, and what features they would like to see in future wearable devices. Common themes were identified and analyzed through an exploratory qualitative approach.

Results:

The analysis of the study showed that there were four main themes observed. The first theme was related to the impact of COVID-19 on the community, which resulted in a significant increase in interest in wearables. The second theme highlighted the challenges faced in obtaining adequate health resources. The third theme focused on a general distrust of the medical system. Lastly, the study emphasized the pressing need for community-driven design solutions.

Conclusions:

The findings from this study reveal that participants from underserved communities are showing emerging interest in using wearables because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the needs of these individuals have been excluded from the design and development of current devices.