Table 2 Categories and Subcategories
From: “That’s just Future Medicine” - a qualitative study on users’ experiences of symptom checker apps
List of Codes | Frequency |
|---|---|
Code system | 1052 |
Attitudes towards findings and recommendations | 0 |
Adherence (to recommendations) | 0 |
Following | 29 |
Not-following | 29 |
Advantages of SCA use | 0 |
Confirmation/reassurance | 24 |
Decision support regarding further actions | 16 |
Expertise/seriousness | 14 |
Frequencies | 8 |
Information/Orientation | 10 |
Naming Causes | 3 |
Overall satisfaction/confidence | 53 |
Reliability | 2 |
Timeliness of the query | 1 |
Useful for reminder/documentation | 2 |
Criteria for assessing findings | 0 |
Adding other sources of information | 8 |
Comparison with family history | 1 |
Medical verdict | 4 |
Perceived plausibility | 2 |
Reliance on your own abilities | 11 |
Disadvantages of SCA use (as compared to other sources) | 0 |
Bias through users | 8 |
Criticism regarding the findings | 0 |
Existing diagnosis not recognized | 8 |
Implausible | 8 |
One-sided | 2 |
Functional logic of SCA | 0 |
Intransparency | 2 |
Networking | 1 |
Risk averse | 8 |
General criticism | 8 |
Mental stress | 20 |
No information on self-treatment options | 5 |
No objectivity/reliability | 4 |
No trust in findings | 8 |
Probabilities aren’t helpful | 4 |
Room for interpretation | 12 |
Unspecific | 6 |
Effects on users’ perceptions | 4 |
(No) perception of findings as a diagnosis | 24 |
Personal factors influencing assessment | 2 |
Influence of personality traits | 10 |
Hypochondria | 4 |
Symptoms with a history | 5 |
Communication | 1 |
Advantages | 5 |
Affinity for technology | 1 |
Dealing with uncomfortable topics | 5 |
Detail | 17 |
Feeling of being noticed | 1 |
Illustration/localization of symptoms | 3 |
Impartiality/Openness | 2 |
Similar to human dialogue | 5 |
Simplicity | 7 |
Comparisons of communication with a physician | 30 |
Disadvantages | 0 |
Limitations | 2 |
No real dialogue | 4 |
Not human or irritation caused by antromorphization | 9 |
Technical terms/text load | 10 |
Tediousness | 4 |
Uncertainties | 5 |
Unfocused | 4 |
Mode of communication | 0 |
Playful | 5 |
Truthful | 17 |
Contact with physicians | 0 |
Comparison SCA - physician | 0 |
Advantages of the physician’s visit | 2 |
Personal/individual/comprehensive view | 5 |
Professionalism | 1 |
Prognosis | 1 |
Recipe exhibition | 2 |
Relevance of physical examinations | 9 |
Reliable diagnosis | 1 |
Subsequent treatment | 2 |
Benefits of SCA | 1 |
App cannot reject | 2 |
Detail | 3 |
Holistic view | 1 |
Objectivity | 1 |
Practicability | 1 |
SCA is not a substitute for a physician | 19 |
Trustworthiness | 20 |
Decisions regarding medical consultation | 20 |
Own classification | 4 |
Reasons for physician contact | 1 |
Acute/unknown symptoms | 6 |
Confirmation/clarification | 2 |
General reasons | 5 |
Notification of illness | 1 |
Suffering/severity of symptoms | 15 |
SCA as a decision-making aid in advance | 6 |
Role of SCA at physician’s visit | 0 |
Confirmation of SCA results | 3 |
Discrepancy in results | 4 |
Documentation/reminder | 3 |
Influence on the relationship | 1 |
Mention to physicians | 0 |
Barriers | 8 |
Mention | 12 |
Astonishment | 2 |
Benefits of Mentioning SCA | 8 |
Desired response: discourse and collaboration | 2 |
Negative Reactions | 5 |
Positive Reactions | 6 |
No mention | 0 |
“Concealment” of the app | 4 |
Negative reactions expected | 5 |
Stay abroad | 1 |
The physician does her own exam anyway | 1 |
No influence | 2 |
Review afterwards | 1 |
SCA as a supplement | 2 |
Use in advance/preparation | 8 |
Wishes for cooperation | 4 |
SCA as recommendation | 5 |
Expectations (prior to use) | 108 |
Adjustment of expectations (through SCA use) | 1 |
Aggregation of symptoms | 2 |
Backup | 1 |
Confirmation/reassurance | 16 |
“False” expectations (from other users) | 0 |
Findings as diagnosis | 2 |
General scepticism | 2 |
Limits | 12 |
Results not ultimately valid | 3 |
First aid/orientation | 27 |
Assessment of the risk | 8 |
Decision support: physician contact | 3 |
Early detection/prevention | 1 |
Helpful with little things | 1 |
Knowledge/expertise | 16 |
Little or no use | 13 |
Overcoming barriers | 1 |
Savings | 9 |
Showing alternatives | 2 |
Motivations | 0 |
Apprehension | 1 |
Avoid physician visits | 0 |
Avoid physician visits abroad | 4 |
Avoid unnecessary physician visits | 3 |
Benign diseases | 5 |
Curiosity/interest | 39 |
“Testing“ SCAs | 14 |
Risks | 0 |
No concerns | 32 |
Subsequent assignment of responsibilities | 27 |
To SCA | 2 |
To app users | 24 |
Concerns | 0 |
Incorrect findings (and following incorrect behaviour) | 4 |
Mental distress | 5 |
Missing aspects | 3 |
Non-critical use | 5 |
Over-triage | 8 |
Privacy | 3 |
Self-treatment | 3 |
Symptom intensification | 3 |
Under-triage | 10 |
Sense of security | 14 |
SCA-use for others | 18 |
Addressee | 0 |
Family (children, partner) | 7 |
Technology-critical people | 2 |
Problems | 0 |
Privacy | 2 |
Responsibility | 2 |
Unproblematic | 5 |