Multilevel needs and perceived implementation challenges of mHealth for community frailty management: a qualitative study guided by the Fogg Behavior Model
Abstract
BackgroundFrailty is an important public health challenge in ageing populations and increasingly requires community-based approaches to prevention and management. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may support health education, self-management, monitoring, and continuity of care among older adults with pre-frailty or frailty. However, successful implementation depends not only on technological usability but also on behavioral, interpersonal, and health-system factors. Evidence regarding these factors from the perspectives of both older adults and community healthcare professionals remains limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the needs and perceived implementation challenges associated with mHealth for community frailty management from the perspectives of older adults with pre-frailty or frailty and community healthcare professionals, and to interpret these factors using the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM).MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 15 community-dwelling older adults with pre-frailty or frailty and 10 community HCPs. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive–deductive thematic analysis approach.ResultsSeven empirically derived subthemes were developed inductively and subsequently organized into three higher-order interpretive domains corresponding to the FBM dimensions of motivation, ability, and prompts. (1) health-oriented motivation was constrained by limited awareness of frailty and insufficient trust in digital health information; (2) individuals and the primary healthcare system jointly constituted multilevel ability barriers; and (3) mHealth engagement was perceived to depend on complementary action cues and social support.ConclusionParticipants perceived the implementation of mHealth in community frailty management as being shaped by interacting factors related to motivation, ability, and prompts. To optimize implementation, attention should be paid to age-friendly design, trustworthy digital health information, frailty and digital health competencies among community HCPs, and coordinated support from family members and healthcare professionals.
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BibTeX
@article{huang2026multilevel,
title = {{Multilevel needs and perceived implementation challenges of mHealth for community frailty management: a qualitative study guided by the Fogg Behavior Model}},
author = {Linfang Huang and Shiyu Sun and Zumin Chen and Lihua Liu},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.2004517},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.2004517},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multilevel needs and perceived implementation challenges of mHealth for community frailty management: a qualitative study guided by the Fogg Behavior Model
AU - Linfang Huang
AU - Shiyu Sun
AU - Zumin Chen
AU - Lihua Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.2004517
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.2004517
AB - BackgroundFrailty is an important public health challenge in ageing populations and increasingly requires community-based approaches to prevention and management. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may support health education, self-management, monitoring, and continuity of care among older adults with pre-frailty or frailty. However, successful implementation depends not only on technological usability but also on behavioral, interpersonal, and health-system factors. Evidence regarding these factors from the perspectives of both older adults and community healthcare professionals remains limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the needs and perceived implementation challenges associated with mHealth for community frailty management from the perspectives of older adults with pre-frailty or frailty and community healthcare professionals, and to interpret these factors using the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM).MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 15 community-dwelling older adults with pre-frailty or frailty and 10 community HCPs. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive–deductive thematic analysis approach.ResultsSeven empirically derived subthemes were developed inductively and subsequently organized into three higher-order interpretive domains corresponding to the FBM dimensions of motivation, ability, and prompts. (1) health-oriented motivation was constrained by limited awareness of frailty and insufficient trust in digital health information; (2) individuals and the primary healthcare system jointly constituted multilevel ability barriers; and (3) mHealth engagement was perceived to depend on complementary action cues and social support.ConclusionParticipants perceived the implementation of mHealth in community frailty management as being shaped by interacting factors related to motivation, ability, and prompts. To optimize implementation, attention should be paid to age-friendly design, trustworthy digital health information, frailty and digital health competencies among community HCPs, and coordinated support from family members and healthcare professionals.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -