title: A Smartphone Application Supporting Recovery from Heroin Addiction: Perspectives of Patients and Providers in China, Taiwan, and the USA.
abstract: Smartphone-based interventions are increasingly used to support self-monitoring, self-management, and treatment and medication compliance in order to improve overall functioning and well-being. In attempting to develop a smartphone application (S-Health) that assists heroin-dependent patients in recovery, a series of focus groups (72 patients, 22 providers) were conducted in China, Taiwan, and the USA to obtain their perspectives on its acceptance and potential adoption. Data were analyzed according to the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory of characteristics important to the adoption of innovation. Important to Relative Advantage, USA participants cited S-Health's potential ability to overcome logistical barriers, while those in China and Taiwan valued its potential to supplement currently limited services. In terms of Compatibility, participants across sites reported recovery needs and goals that such an application could be helpful in supporting; however, its utility during strong craving was questioned in China and Taiwan. Important factors relevant to Complexity included concerns about smartphone access and familiarity, individualization of content, and particularly in China and Taiwan, participants wanted assurance of privacy and security. The study results suggest a general acceptance, but also indicate cultural variations in access to therapeutic and other social support systems, legal repercussions of substance use, societal perceptions of addiction, and the role of family and other social support in recovery. Taking these factors into consideration is likely to increase diffusion as well as effectiveness of these smartphone-based interventions.
authors: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Marya
authors: M
authors: Schulte
authors: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Di
authors: D
authors: Liang
authors: , Los Angeles County, CA, USA.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Wu
authors: China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Lan
authors: Food and Drug Administration, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Wening
authors: W
authors: Tsay
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Du
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. yhser@ucla.edu.|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. yhser@ucla.edu.
authors: Yih-Ing
authors: YI
authors: Hser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diffusion of innovation theory; Recovery from heroin addiction; S-Health; Smartphone application