Actors and intentions in the development process of a mobile phone platform for self-management of hypertension

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to enhance the knowledge regarding actors and intentions in the development process of a mobile phone platform for self-management of hypertension. Methods: Our research approach was a 14-month longitudinal “real-time ethnography” method of description and analysis. Data were collected through focus groups with patients and providers, patient interviews, and design meetings with researchers and experts. The analysis was informed by the concepts of actors and inscriptions in actor-network theory (ANT). Results: Our study showed that laypersons, scientific actors, as well as technology itself, might influence development processes of support for self-management of hypertension. The intentions were inscribed into the technology design as well as the models of learning and treatment. Conclusions: The study highlighted important aspects of how actors and intentions feature in the development of the mobile phone platform to support self-management of hypertension. The study indicated the multifacetedness of the participating actors, including the prominent role of technology. The concrete results of such processes included questions in the self-report system, learning and treatment models.

• Cellular phone
• development process
• hypertension
• participatory design
• self-management

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the patients, providers, experts and researchers for their contributions to this research.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The research reported here has been financed by and conducted within the University of Gothenburg LETStudio, in collaboration with the Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC) in Sweden. The LETStudio is a strategic initiative for promoting interdisciplinary research within the Learning Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. It addresses issues of knowledge, learning, communication and expertise in contemporary society. The GPCC is funded by the Swedish Government's grant for Strategic Research Areas, Care Sciences [Application to Swedish Research Council nr 2009-1088], and co-funded by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden