Table 2.
Relative importance of factors influencing the use of eHealth.a
| Factor | Definition | Mean (SD) | Range |
| Access to medical information | The extent to which eHealth helps you to gain insight into and over medical information | 1.59 (1.44) | 0 to 4 |
| Perceived control over disease management | The extent to which eHealth gives you more control over your health care (eg, making appointments by yourself) | 1.22 (2.02) | −3 to 4 |
| Correctness or completeness of information | The extent to which your medical/personal data are correct and complete | 1.09 (1.34) | −1 to 4 |
| Data security | The extent to which the storage and exchange of your (medical) information happens securely | 1.05 (1.99) | −4 to 3 |
| Access to information or an HCPb at any time | The extent to which eHealth ensures you have access to information or an HCP at any time (eg, reading information at home or asking quick questions) | 0.95 (2.15) | −3 to 4 |
| Exchange of (medical) information between platforms/services/HCPs | The extent to which exchange of your (medical) information is possible, therefore not needing to give the same information twice (eg, between hospitals and HCPs) | 0.91 (2.04) | −3 to 4 |
| Keeping agreements | The extent to which agreements made with you are lived up to (eg, receiving an answer to a question within the specified time window) | 0.86 (1.46) | −2 to 4 |
| Usability | If the eHealth application is easy to use for you (eg, clear, appealing, ease of log-in methods) | 0.68 (1.94) | −3 to 4 |
| Comprehensibility of information | The extent to which information you receive through eHealth (eg, diagnostic test results) is comprehensible | 0.59 (1.79) | −4 to 4 |
| Feeling of personal contact | The extent to which contact through eHealth gives you a feeling of personal contact (eg, nonverbal communication) | 0.55 (1.47) | −3 to 3 |
| Accessibility of eHealth | The extent to which eHealth is accessible to use for you (eg, the preferred digital channel, availability on Android, IOS, and Windows) | 0.32 (2.06) | −3 to 4 |
| Functionalities of eHealth | What functionalities are available to you (eg, exercise portal, ordering medication, planning appointments, asking questions, and insight into test results) | 0.26 (1.69) | −3 to 3 |
| Working eHealth | If the eHealth applications work for you as they are supposed to | −0.10 (1.99) | −4 to 3 |
| Timely usage of eHealth | If eHealth is or can be used at the right moments in your care pathway | −0.12 (1.76) | −3.33 to 4 |
| Personal advantages | The extent to which eHealth provides benefits for you as a person (eg, saving time or travel costs, convenience) | −0.23 (2.02) | −3 to 4 |
| Facultative | If you have a choice between digital channels and if the use of eHealth remains free of choice | −0.46 (1.97) | −4 to 4 |
| Knowledge about eHealth | If you have adequate knowledge about eHealth to use it | −0.95 (1.99) | −4 to 4 |
| Physically capable of using eHealth | If you are physically capable of using eHealth (eg, reading small text, operating a smartphone) | −1.23 (1.41) | −3 to 2 |
| Societal benefits | The extent to which the use of eHealth provides a benefit for society (eg, reduction of CO2, reduction of health care costs) | −1.23 (1.54) | −4 to 2 |
| Attitude or emotions | If your attitude and/or emotions towards eHealth influence your use thereof (eg, anxiety for using, trust, and positive experiences) | −1.33 (1.69) | −4 to 3 |
| Digital skills | How well you can handle eHealth (eg, understanding how to use an application) | −1.40 (1.19) | −3.3 to 0 |
| Access to internet or equipment | If you have an internet connection and are in the possession of a computer/smartphone/tablet | −1.59 (1.91) | −4 to 2 |
| Help with using eHealth | The extent to which you receive help and a clear explanation to use eHealth | −2.05 (1.99) | −4 to 4 |
a23 factors influencing the use of eHealth including explanation and mean (SD) scores and range. The score is calculated as the mean of points given to each factor by 22 participants (Figure S1 in Multimedia Appendix 5). The range shows the minimal and maximal score that was given for a factor, respectively (range –4 to 4). Positive and negative scores indicate that the factor is considered important and unimportant to patients for eHealth use, respectively. A score around zero means that patients felt neutral about this factor for their use of eHealth.
bHCP: health care provider.