JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Participation has moved from political protest to active engagement in various areas, including health. Patient engagement has transformed healthcare, and mHealth has positioned mobile technology as a tool for health promotion. Research indicated that user engagement is crucial for effective mHealth interventions.

Objective:

This paper aims to explore the attributes, methods and barriers to user engagement in mHealth.

Methods:

For this scoping review, a systematic approach was used to map the evidence on mHealth interventions for health promotion and prevention, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched using tailored keywords. A two-stage selection process was implemented, focusing on participation attributes, methods, and barriers/facilitators.

Results:

The study analyzed mHealth interventions for health promotion and prevention. Out of 1,533 articles identified, 782 were screened and 41 met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Participation definitions and attributes varied by discipline and author, with scales and gradations qualifying participation by intensity or within the mHealth. User engagement methods included theory-based interventions, behavior change techniques, user-centered design, personalization, autonomy, peer support, motivation and gamification. Challenges included barriers to technology adoption, lack of theory-based interventions, personalization, autonomy, peer support, motivation and gamification.

Conclusions:

The understanding of user participation in digital interventions is complex and diverse, lacking consensus. Definitions vary among intervention providers, reflecting distinct objectives and methodologies. The absence of clear concepts and attributes highlights the need to refine definitions in digital health, which is essential for guiding intervention evaluation and development methodologies.