Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study
Background Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests offer a flexible approach to research data collection, biological sample management, and informed consent but require evaluation in relevant study settings. This study explored user experiences with a web-based digital tool for trial ma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365063 |
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| _version_ | 1849253656482807808 |
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| author | Lana Hebib Emelie Gustafson Hedov Maria Storgärds Peder af Geijerstam Marie Löf Jason HY Wu Lisa Kastbom Karin Rådholm |
| author_facet | Lana Hebib Emelie Gustafson Hedov Maria Storgärds Peder af Geijerstam Marie Löf Jason HY Wu Lisa Kastbom Karin Rådholm |
| author_sort | Lana Hebib |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests offer a flexible approach to research data collection, biological sample management, and informed consent but require evaluation in relevant study settings. This study explored user experiences with a web-based digital tool for trial management, symptom reporting, and home blood testing. Methods Forty-three middle-aged participants took part in a 12-week mixed-method study, using digital tools for trial management, self-reported health data, and self-administered glycated hemoglobin A1c home blood tests. Usability was assessed through the validated mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) with additional study-specific items. Every second participant completed a semi-structured interview, analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The MAUQ responses (scale 1–7) indicated that digital consent (94.7% agreed), and home blood tests (100% agreed) were well-received. However, finding information on digital tools was challenging (52.9% disagreed it was easy), and participants did not perceive the tools highly effective for managing health (52.9% disagreed they were helpful). Interviews with 20 participants reinforced these findings, emphasizing motivation, support, efficient resource use, and the importance of clarity, usability, safety, and security. Conclusion While self-administered blood tests and online consent were considered user-friendly, improvements are needed in digital tool navigation and information accessibility to enhance usability in decentralized trials, especially for participants who find them difficult or unhelpful. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96b3f0666f434bbc8c0ab4120d34f0ca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-96b3f0666f434bbc8c0ab4120d34f0ca2025-08-20T03:56:14ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-07-011110.1177/20552076251365063Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot studyLana Hebib0Emelie Gustafson Hedov1Maria Storgärds2Peder af Geijerstam3Marie Löf4Jason HY Wu5Lisa Kastbom6Karin Rådholm7 Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, , Linköping, Sweden Symptoms Europe AB, Uppsala, Sweden , Uppsala, Sweden Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, , Linköping, Sweden Department of Medicine, , Huddinge, Sweden The School of Population Health, , Sydney, Australia Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, , Linköping, Sweden The George Institute for Global Health, , Sydney, AustraliaBackground Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests offer a flexible approach to research data collection, biological sample management, and informed consent but require evaluation in relevant study settings. This study explored user experiences with a web-based digital tool for trial management, symptom reporting, and home blood testing. Methods Forty-three middle-aged participants took part in a 12-week mixed-method study, using digital tools for trial management, self-reported health data, and self-administered glycated hemoglobin A1c home blood tests. Usability was assessed through the validated mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) with additional study-specific items. Every second participant completed a semi-structured interview, analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The MAUQ responses (scale 1–7) indicated that digital consent (94.7% agreed), and home blood tests (100% agreed) were well-received. However, finding information on digital tools was challenging (52.9% disagreed it was easy), and participants did not perceive the tools highly effective for managing health (52.9% disagreed they were helpful). Interviews with 20 participants reinforced these findings, emphasizing motivation, support, efficient resource use, and the importance of clarity, usability, safety, and security. Conclusion While self-administered blood tests and online consent were considered user-friendly, improvements are needed in digital tool navigation and information accessibility to enhance usability in decentralized trials, especially for participants who find them difficult or unhelpful.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365063 |
| spellingShingle | Lana Hebib Emelie Gustafson Hedov Maria Storgärds Peder af Geijerstam Marie Löf Jason HY Wu Lisa Kastbom Karin Rådholm Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study Digital Health |
| title | Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| title_full | Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| title_short | Digital tools and self-administered home blood tests: A convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| title_sort | digital tools and self administered home blood tests a convergent mixed methods pilot study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365063 |
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