Supervisors: Keld Pedersen & Michael Zaggl
Discussants: Susan Hilbolling & Carsten Bergenholtz

Authors: Georgios Tsirozidis & Michael Zaggl

Abstract
Despite the pervasive accessibility of mHealth applications, user engagement remains a challenge. Especially when sensitive health information is involved, the lack of privacy assurance, benefits to oneself or to others, and trust, are commonly seen as impediments to widespread and sustained mHealth engagement. In this study, we build on Privacy Calculus Theory to examine the associations of these factors with mHealth engagement. We collected survey and behavioural data from the users of a women’s health mobile application. To test our hypotheses, we performed hierarchical multivariable linear (N = 341) and logistic (N = 354) regression analyses. Our results show that the perceived benefits to others are positively related to application engagement (use duration and intensity), while no significant association of perceived benefits to self, trust, and privacy risks with engagement was found. We discuss the implications of our findings in aiding the managing of mHealth engagement, and in understanding the predictors of mHealth engagement, while further complementary research is suggested.

The presentation will primarily focus on the above paper and will discuss it in the context of the dissertation.

Everyone is welcome!