Open AccessExploring Public Attitude toward Biofeedback Technologies: Knowledge, Preferences and Personality Tendencies
Author(s) -
Gaetano Alessandro Russo,
Serena Oliveri,
Clizia Cincidda,
Paolo Guiddi,
Gabriella Pravettoni
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
deleted journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.579
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2279-9028
DOI - 10.4081/jphr.2020.1782
Subject(s) - biofeedback , locus of control , personality , perception , psychology , affect (linguistics) , health literacy , public health , applied psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , social psychology , health care , psychiatry , nursing , political science , communication , neuroscience , law
Background Biofeedback is increasingly used in the clinical area and in daily health monitoring through wearable devices (e.g. smart watches). Nevertheless, it remains rather unknown. This study aimed to assess, in a sample of Italian citizens, the level of knowledge, attitudes, perceived efficacy and personality tendencies which could affect the uptake of biofeedback technologies.Design and methods Participants were recruited by advertising the survey on the social networks, from March to May 2019. 160 subjects filled in an ad hoc online questionnaire assessing socio-demographic variables, clinical status, physical activity, knowledge and attitude towards biofeedback, psychological tendencies toward health.Results Data showed a good level of interest in biofeedback training in spite of poor knowledge about such technologies. Sport and chronic diseases were not correlated to a greater use of biofeedback. People informed about biofeedback technologies were more interested in undergoing biofeedback training and had higher scores in the Health Locus of Control. Finally, people who showed a positive perception of their own health (Health Esteem) did not rely on these technologies. Discussion: Despite the huge spread of biofeedback technologies, our results disconfirmed the expectation that people having an active lifestyle or a disease were more familiar with biofeedback systems. The attitude toward such technologies seems to depend on individual tendencies.Conclusions This study suggests the importance to improve general public literacy on biofeedback technologies, tailor tools on their needs and characteristics, empower people's sense of internal health control for promoting a valid use and a proper knowledge of biofeedback.