Graduate Research and Discovery Symposium (GRADS)

Exploring mHealth as a New Route to Bridging the Nursing Theory-Practice Gap

Advisor

Bonnie Holaday, PhD

Document Type

Poster

Department

Nursing

Publication Date

Spring 2013

Abstract

The purpose of this poster is to discuss the use of mHealth as a tool for research and development of nursing theories. Mobile health (mHealth) is one of the most promising new advances in healthcare technology. mHealth is defined as the use of mobile technology in the provision of healthcare delivery or health promotion (Qiang, Yamamichi, Hausman, & Altman, 2011). The need for innovative and effective interventions for the prevention and management of chronic illness is evident. The use of mHealth interventions in the treatment and monitoring of chronic illness is still young but shows great promise. Currently the public health and psychological sciences are using their theories to guide interventional studies by operationalizing concepts through mHealth’s multi-faceted capabilities for patient interaction. Outcomes measures from chronic illness-mHealth studies are thematically evaluated by using theoretical nursing outcome-related concepts of Meleis’ Transitions theory and Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness theory. Despite a small number of articles available for review, there are strong themes of activation and engagement of the patient through mHealth. The application of nursing theory in mHealth offers a new method to operationalize theoretical concepts, test theory-based interventions, and gain new contextual insight into the health-illness patient experience.

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