Experience with digitalization of courses at a healthy life center - An interview study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how employees and participants experienced digital courses at a healthy life center. Material and methods: Two focus group interviews with a total of nine employees and seven in-depth interviews with participants were conducted. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation. Findings: The digital room was experienced as a “new and unknown terrain” for both employees and participants. In addition, the employees experienced legal restrictions in terms of privacy protection and confidentiality. Employees and participants experienced that they “lost a lot” with digital courses, including exchange of experience, questions, the social fellowship and body language. Furthermore, both groups experienced that the digital courses provided opportunities as it was efficient and flexible. Both groups were positive to more use of digital courses and expressed that it might be a useful supplement to ordinary courses. Conclusion: Employees and participants were positive to more use of digital courses and digital tools as a supplement to physical courses, but expressed skepticism to all-digital courses. Both groups described “loosing” a lot during digital courses, specially the social aspect and the exchange of experiences. Many opportunities were described with digitalization such as being effective and time saving. The employees experienced that the technology was a barrier for digitalization.

Keywords

• healthy life center
• lifestyle change
• health behavior
• digitalization