Navigation, Adoption, and Use of Digital Health Technologies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self-Management: Focus Group Study of Patient Experience and Decision-Making.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder that impairs bowel functions and patients' overall quality of life. IBS-focused digital health technologies (DHTs), including online health resources and mobile health (mHealth) apps, have recently proliferated for patient use. However, research exploring patients' experiences with navigating, adopting, or using commercial or publicly available DHTs for IBS self-management is limited.

Objective

This study aims to explore the user experiences and decision-making of patients with IBS as they navigate, adopt, and use diverse DHTs for disease self-management.

Methods

We conducted virtual semistructured focus group interviews to explore the experiences of patients with IBS using DHTs, i

SUBMITTER: D'Silva A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12910269 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature