Co-creation between pregnant users and technology during the process of accessing a self-monitoring eHealth system: Mixed-method study from a socio-material perspective (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Access to eHealth self-monitoring has the potential to influence receival of appropriate health resources during pregnancy. Little is known about influences of the process of accessing eHealth systems on use patterns. OBJECTIVE Here, we examined processes occurring during the adaption of eHealth self-monitoring use from a socio-materiality perspective. METHODS A mixed-methods convergence evaluation was used. Semi-structured interview data was analysed after which participants were spilt based on their level of use (wear-time). Final content analysis was conducted according to user group. RESULTS A co-creation process between pregnant users’ and the eHealth system was identified. Differences were noted between high and low user groups, with the high group giving attention to developing skills in recording and interpreting data and the low group discussing the manual adding of activities to the system and how the system worked best for them when they used it in their mother tongue CONCLUSIONS The co-creation process between pregnant users and the technology has implications for design and evaluation of perinatal self-monitoring eHealth systems. Researchers and clinicians can observe reasons for why pregnant users access eHealth systems in unique ways based on their personal preferences, habits, and values. Knowing the reasons for use patterns can inform designs that do not overburden or under stimulate users. Mediation activities of the eHealth system and the different user adaptive activities represent a co-creation process between the users and the eHealth system that is necessary for the personalization of perinatal eHealth systems