Currently submitted to: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Oct 30, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 11, 2025 - Jan 6, 2026
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Experiences with technology among adults aging with HIV engaged in an online community-based exercise intervention study: a longitudinal qualitative descriptive study and secondary data analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
As individuals with HIV live longer, many now face the health consequences of aging and multimorbidity, known as disability. Exercise can mitigate disability, however, engagement in exercise among adults living with HIV varies. Technology-based interventions, such as telerehabilitation, may help mitigate geographical, financial and time barriers to community-based exercise (CBE). However, little is known about the experiences with technology uptake and usage among adults living with HIV. Understanding these experiences is essential to inform design of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable online interventions.
Objective:
Objectives: Our aim was to describe experiences with technology uptake and usage among adults aging with HIV participating in a six-month online community-based exercise (CBE) intervention, and explore how these experiences changed over time, from baseline to post-intervention.
Methods:
Methods:
We conducted a longitudinal qualitative descriptive study using interview data from adults living with HIV engaged in a CBE intervention study in Toronto, Canada. Participants engaged in a six-month online CBE intervention consisting of thrice weekly exercise, supervised biweekly with online personal coaching sessions, weekly group exercise classes, and monthly self-management education sessions (via Zoom). Technology included Zoom software and webcam; Sweat for Good YMCA App and YMCA Virtuagym Website; and participants wore a wireless physical activity monitor (Fitbit Inspire 2) throughout. Participants completed interviews at baseline and post-intervention. We conducted a group-based content analysis of interview transcripts, focusing on digital access, setup, usage, and perceptions of technology. Questionnaire data describing digital literacy and access to technology provided additional context to the interview data.
Results:
Results:
Eleven participants completed at least one interview. We analyzed 19 interview transcripts from 11 participants (six women, five men; median age 52 years). Experiences with technology uptake and usage among adults aging with HIV were characterized by four components: i) preparations for technology (technology set up); ii) interactions with technology (preferences for different types of technology, preferences for mode of delivery, ease of usage); iii) facilitators and satisfaction with technology (facilitators to technology uptake and usage and satisfaction with technology); and iv) challenges and frustrations with technology (barriers technology uptake and usage, frustrations with technology). Experiences with technology across participants were influenced by intrinsic contextual factors (prior exposure with technology) and extrinsic contextual factors (COVID-19 pandemic, technological and social support).
Conclusions:
Conclusion: Experiences with technology among adults aging with HIV engaging in an online CBE intervention varied from increasing ease of use, to increasingly burdensome over time. Results highlight the need to incorporate personal preferences, and ongoing technological support when implementing online CBE with adults aging with HIV. Clinical Trial: NCT05006391
Citation
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