scholarly journals Mobile Health Divide Between Clinicians and Patients in Cancer Care: Results From a Cross-Sectional International Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanna Tarricone ◽  
Maria Cucciniello ◽  
Patrizio Armeni ◽  
Francesco Petracca ◽  
Kevin C Desouza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
International Workshop ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Mobile technologies are increasingly being used to manage chronic diseases, including cancer, with the promise of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of care. Among the myriad of mobile technologies in health care, we have seen an explosion of mobile apps. The rapid increase in digital health apps is not paralleled by a similar trend in usage statistics by clinicians and patients. Little is known about how much and in what ways mobile health (mHealth) apps are used by clinicians and patients for cancer care, what variables affect their use of mHealth, and what patients’ and clinicians’ expectations of mHealth apps are. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the patient and clinician population that uses mHealth in cancer care and to provide recommendations to app developers and regulators to generally increase the use and efficacy of mHealth apps. METHODS Through a cross-sectional Web-based survey, we explored the current utilization rates of mHealth in cancer care and factors that explain the differences in utilization by patients and clinicians across the United States and 5 different countries in Europe. In addition, we conducted an international workshop with more than 100 stakeholders and a roundtable with key representatives of international organizations of clinicians and patients to solicit feedback on the survey results and develop insights into mHealth app development practices. RESULTS A total of 1033 patients and 1116 clinicians participated in the survey. The proportion of cancer patients using mHealth (294/1033, 28.46%) was far lower than that of clinicians (859/1116, 76.97%). Accounting for age and salary level, the marginal probabilities of use at means are still significantly different between the 2 groups and were 69.8% for clinicians and 38.7% for patients using the propensity score–based regression adjustment with weighting technique. Moreover, our analysis identified a gap between basic and advanced users, with a prevalent use for activities related to the automation of processes and the interaction with other individuals and a limited adoption for side-effect management and compliance monitoring in both groups. CONCLUSIONS mHealth apps can provide access to clinical and economic data that are low cost, easy to access, and personalized. The benefits can go as far as increasing patients’ chances of overall survival. However, despite its potential, evidence on the actual use of mobile technologies in cancer care is not promising. If the promise of mHealth is to be fulfilled, clinician and patient usage rates will need to converge. Ideally, cancer apps should be designed in ways that strengthen the patient-physician relationship, ease physicians’ workload, be tested for validity and effectiveness, and fit the criteria for reimbursement.

scholarly journals Mobile Health Divide Between Clinicians and Patients in Cancer Care: Results From a Cross-Sectional International Survey

10.2196/13584 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e13584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanna Tarricone ◽  
Maria Cucciniello ◽  
Patrizio Armeni ◽  
Francesco Petracca ◽  
Kevin C Desouza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
International Workshop ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Mobile technologies are increasingly being used to manage chronic diseases, including cancer, with the promise of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of care. Among the myriad of mobile technologies in health care, we have seen an explosion of mobile apps. The rapid increase in digital health apps is not paralleled by a similar trend in usage statistics by clinicians and patients. Little is known about how much and in what ways mobile health (mHealth) apps are used by clinicians and patients for cancer care, what variables affect their use of mHealth, and what patients’ and clinicians’ expectations of mHealth apps are. Objective This study aimed to describe the patient and clinician population that uses mHealth in cancer care and to provide recommendations to app developers and regulators to generally increase the use and efficacy of mHealth apps. Methods Through a cross-sectional Web-based survey, we explored the current utilization rates of mHealth in cancer care and factors that explain the differences in utilization by patients and clinicians across the United States and 5 different countries in Europe. In addition, we conducted an international workshop with more than 100 stakeholders and a roundtable with key representatives of international organizations of clinicians and patients to solicit feedback on the survey results and develop insights into mHealth app development practices. Results A total of 1033 patients and 1116 clinicians participated in the survey. The proportion of cancer patients using mHealth (294/1033, 28.46%) was far lower than that of clinicians (859/1116, 76.97%). Accounting for age and salary level, the marginal probabilities of use at means are still significantly different between the 2 groups and were 69.8% for clinicians and 38.7% for patients using the propensity score–based regression adjustment with weighting technique. Moreover, our analysis identified a gap between basic and advanced users, with a prevalent use for activities related to the automation of processes and the interaction with other individuals and a limited adoption for side-effect management and compliance monitoring in both groups. Conclusions mHealth apps can provide access to clinical and economic data that are low cost, easy to access, and personalized. The benefits can go as far as increasing patients’ chances of overall survival. However, despite its potential, evidence on the actual use of mobile technologies in cancer care is not promising. If the promise of mHealth is to be fulfilled, clinician and patient usage rates will need to converge. Ideally, cancer apps should be designed in ways that strengthen the patient-physician relationship, ease physicians’ workload, be tested for validity and effectiveness, and fit the criteria for reimbursement.

Exclusion by Design: Lack of Information about Community Participation in COVID-19-related Mobile Apps and its Relationship to Digital Health Disparities (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Yassin Idris ◽  
Maya Korin ◽  
Faven Araya ◽  
Sayeeda Chowdhury ◽  
Humberto Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Participation ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
App Development ◽  
Communities Of Color

UNSTRUCTURED The rate and scale of transmission of COVID-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in under-resourced communities of color that already faced a high prevalence of pre-existing health conditions. One way the health ecosystem has tried to address the pandemic is by creating mobile apps for telemedicine, dissemination of medical information, and disease tracking. As these new mobile health tools continue to be a primary format for healthcare, more attention needs to be given to their equitable distribution, usage, and accessibility. In this viewpoint collaboratively written by a community-based organization and a health app development research team, we present results of our systematic search and analysis of community engagement in mobile apps released between February and December 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide an overview of apps’ features and functionalities but could not find any publicly available information regarding whether these apps incorporated participation from communities of color disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We argue that while mobile health technologies are a form of intellectual property, app developers should make public the steps taken to include community participation in app development. These steps could include community needs assessment, community feedback solicited and incorporated, and community participation in evaluation. These are factors that community-based organizations look for when assessing whether to promote digital health tools among the communities they serve. Transparency about the participation of community organizations in the process of app development would increase buy-in, trust, and usage of mobile health apps in communities where they are needed most.

scholarly journals The Digital Health Revolution and People with Disabilities: Perspective from the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Jones ◽  
Frank DeRuyter ◽  
John Morris
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Health Technologies

This article serves as the introduction to this special issue on Mobile Health and Mobile Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities. Social, technological and policy trends are reviewed. Needs, opportunities and challenges for the emerging fields of mobile health (mHealth, aka eHealth) and mobile rehabilitation (mRehab) are discussed. Healthcare in the United States (U.S.) is at a critical juncture characterized by: (1) a growing need for healthcare and rehabilitation services; (2) maturing technological capabilities to support more effective and efficient health services; (3) evolving public policies designed, by turns, to contain cost and support new models of care; and (4) a growing need to ensure acceptance and usability of new health technologies by people with disabilities and chronic conditions, clinicians and health delivery systems. Discussion of demographic and population health data, healthcare service delivery and a public policy primarily focuses on the U.S. However, trends identified (aging populations, growing prevalence of chronic conditions and disability, labor shortages in healthcare) apply to most countries with advanced economies and others. Furthermore, technologies that enable mRehab (wearable sensors, in-home environmental monitors, cloud computing, artificial intelligence) transcend national boundaries. Remote and mobile healthcare delivery is needed and inevitable. Proactive engagement is critical to ensure acceptance and effectiveness for all stakeholders.

scholarly journals Using Qualitative In-Depth Interviews to Assess Smartphone Users’ Persuasion Knowledge Related to Health Mobile Apps Supported by Commercial, Governmental, and Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunsin Joo ◽  
Anastasia Kononova ◽  
Shaheen Kanthawala ◽  
Wei Peng ◽  
Shelia Cotten
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personal Health Information ◽  
Persuasion Knowledge ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps used for promotion raise important questions about privacy of sensitive personal health information and digital advertising literacy. Although it is common that different types of organizations support mHealth apps for promotional purposes (e.g., sponsorship, owned apps), there is little understanding of users’ perceptions regarding the safety of personal data stored in mobile apps. Persuasion knowledge, or recognition of a sponsor’s presence, characteristics, intents, competencies, and persuasion tactics, is crucial to investigate because the abundance of mHealth apps makes it difficult for users to identify their true purpose and estimate privacy-related risks. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate smartphone users’ persuasion knowledge related to mHealth apps used as a promotional strategy by commercial, government, and non-profit/non-governmental organizations. This study also examines users’ willingness to share demographic and health information via those apps. METHODS In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted at a large Midwestern university in the United States. Smartphone users (N = 25) were recruited from the local community. RESULTS Participants had a high level of persuasion knowledge regarding the types of app-supporting organizations and their promotional intents, but only after being probed. Participants expressed concerns about losing control over sharing personal information with mHealth apps supported by different organizations. They used alternative digital identities to protect themselves from privacy invasion, security risks, and advertising spam associated with mHealth app use. Yet, participants did not engage in reading privacy policies and statements when downloading such apps. Participants were prone to share greater amounts of personal information with the apps backed by non-profit and government agencies than by commercial companies. They were willing to “trade” some personal information for high quality and functionality of commercially supported mHealth apps. Participants inclined to share lesser than greater amounts of personal information with sponsored/branded mHealth apps and indicated that information for sharing should be more general than specific. There was a sense of fatalism in discussing health-related risks linked to mHealth app usage; and some participants did not perceive the risks to be serious. CONCLUSIONS Despite high levels of persuasion knowledge related to using mHealth apps for promotion, smartphone users didn’t show a great effort in evaluating app providers and app financial sources. This may bring serious consequences related to privacy of personal and health information as it can be continuously collected and managed by the supporting organizations and third-parties. Discussion of and recommendations for safe and ethical uses of mHealth apps associated with organization/company promotional strategies and privacy protection are provided. Theoretical implications are discussed in the context of the persuasion knowledge model and dual-processing theories.

scholarly journals What Drives Young Vietnamese to Use Mobile Health Innovations? Implications for Health Communication and Behavioral Interventions (Preprint)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bach Xuan Tran ◽  
Melvyn WB Zhang ◽  
Huong Thi Le ◽  
Hinh Duc Nguyen ◽  
Long Hoang Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Mobile phone use in Vietnam has become increasingly popular in recent years, with youth (people aged 15-24 years) being one of the groups with the heaviest use. Health-related apps on mobile phones (mobile health [mHealth] apps) appear to be a feasible approach for disease and health management, especially for self-management. However, there has been a scarcity of research on mobile phone usage for health care among youth and adolescents. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify the patterns of usage of mobile phone apps and the preferences for functionalities of mobile phone-based health-related apps among Vietnamese youth. METHODS An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam in August to October 2015. Web-based respondent-driven sampling technique was adopted to recruit participants. The online questionnaire was developed and distributed using Google Forms. Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to investigate the difference in attitude and preference for mobile phone apps between the two genders. RESULTS Among 356 youths (age from 15 to 25 years) sampled, low prevalence was found of using mHealth apps such as beauty counseling (6.5%, 23/356), nutrition counseling (7.9%, 28/356), disease prevention (9.8%, 35/356), and disease treatment (7.6%, 27/356). The majority of users found the app(s) they used to be useful (72.7%, 48/356) and reported satisfaction with these apps (61.9%, 39/356). No significant differences were found between the genders in their perception of the usefulness of apps and their satisfaction with mobile health apps. Most of the participants (68.2%, 238/356) preferred apps which are conceptualized and designed to run on a mobile phone compared to Web-based apps, and 50% (176/356) preferred visual materials. Approximately 53.9% (188/356) reported that it was integral for the mobile phone apps to have a sharing/social network functionality. Participants with a higher perceived stress score and EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index were significantly less likely to use mHealth apps. CONCLUSIONS This study found a low proportion using mHealth-related mobile phone apps, but a high level of receptiveness and satisfaction among Vietnamese youth. Acceptance level and preferences toward mHealth apps as well as specifically preferred functionalities discovered in this study are essential not only in conceptualizing and developing appropriate mobile phone interventions targeting youth and adolescents, but also in the application of technically advanced solutions in disease prevention and health management.

scholarly journals Emotional health concerns of oncology physicians in the United States: fallout during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Thomaier ◽  
Deanna Teoh ◽  
Patricia Jewett ◽  
Heather Beckwith ◽  
Helen Parsons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

AbstractIntroductionCancer care is significantly impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the emotional well-being of oncology providers across the United States and explore factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.Methods and MaterialsA cross-sectional survey was administered to United States cancer-care physicians recruited over a two-week period (3/27/2020 – 4/10/2020) using snowball-convenience sampling through social media. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4).ResultsOf 486 participants, 374 (77.0%) completed the PHQ-4: mean age 45.7±9.6 years; 63.2% female; all oncologic specialties were represented. The rates of anxiety and depression symptoms were 62.0% and 23.5%, respectively. Demographic factors associated with anxiety included female sex, younger age, and less time in clinical practice. Perception of inadequate PPE (68.6% vs. 57.4%, p=0.03) and practicing in a state with more COVID-19 cases (65.8% vs. 51.1%, p=0.01) were associated with anxiety symptoms. Factors significantly associated with both anxiety and depression included: degree to which COVID-19 has interfered with the ability to provide treatment to cancer patients and concern that patients will not receive the level of care needed for non-COVID-19 illness (all p-values <0.01).ConclusionThe prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among oncology physicians in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic is high. Our findings highlight factors associated with and sources of psychological distress to be addressed to protect the well-being of oncology physicians.

First data from OUT: The National Cancer Survey of LGBTQ+ survivors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18544-e18544
Author(s):  
Nfn Scout ◽  
Michelle ED Veras ◽  
Bethany Andrews Rhoten ◽  
Reece ED Lyerly ◽  
Aurea ED Kasberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

e18544 Background: Cultural barriers that inhibit LGBTQ cancer care are a public health crisis. Although LGBTQ cultural competency trainings are rapidly becoming the norm, patient-centered information is lacking for healthcare professionals in cancer care. The purpose of OUT: The National Cancer Survey is to understand the experiences of LGBTQ cancer survivors in order to make cancer care a safer and more welcoming place for survivors and their support teams. Methods: Individuals age 18 or older currently living in the United States who have been previously diagnosed with cancer and who identify as LGBTQ+ were recruited via community partnerships and targeted paid social media advertisements with an oversample of media outreach to Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Participants completed a cross-sectional web-based survey of their cancer care experiences. This resulted in a final sample of [1,600+] survivors, the largest known sample of LGBTQ+ cancer survivors in the world. The sample was weighted to adjust for U.S. sex assigned at birth and racial/ethnic demographics. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant responses, crosstabs were used to compare responses across demographic categories, and excerpted responses are used to highlight qualitative themes. Results: Participants ranged in age from X to X years (median X). X% of the sample identified as either gay or lesbian, X% as bi, and X% as trans or gender nonconforming. X% of the sample identified as White only, followed by X% as Latine, X% as Black and X% as other or mixed race. Most common cancer types included XYZ. When asked about welcoming care, X% of the sample reported they specifically sought an LGBTQ+ welcoming provider after diagnosis. Most common methods for finding such a provider included: X, X, and X. Most common cues that helped patients identify welcoming providers included X, X, and X. Overall X% reported receiving care in an LGBTQ+ welcoming environment but X% did not. Of those who did not receive care in a welcoming environment, they were more likely to be X, X, and X. Overall, X% of patients were out to their providers, but this varied by X, X, and X. The most common ways of coming out included X, X, and X. When asked what they wanted to tell health care providers to ensure better care, participants highlighted several themes, including: X, X, and X. These findings provide patient driven insights into how cancer care varies within the LGBTQ+ population by different demographic factors and specific strategies providers can take to enhance care for LGBTQ+ people.

Accessibility of Telehealth services for cancer care at cancer hospital in the United States.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6535-6535
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Marks ◽  
Walter R. Hsiang ◽  
James Nie ◽  
Waez Umer ◽  
Afash Haleem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Site ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression ◽  
Cancer Types

6535 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the availability of telehealth services for patients with cancer. However, little national cross-sectional data is available to inform potential gaps in access. We aimed to characterize overall access to and trends in telehealth availability for new cancer care patients at hospitals across the United States. Methods: We performed a cross sectional secret-shopper study to evaluate the availability of telehealth services for new patients for three major cancer types—colorectal, breast, and skin cancer—at Commission on Cancer accredited hospitals during the period of April to November 2020. American Hospital Association and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service databases were queried to determine hospital characteristics. We described hospital variation in access to telehealth services using descriptive statistics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with telehealth availability. Results: Of 334 successfully contacted facilities, 248 (74%) offered new patient telehealth services for at least one cancer type. However, access differed by cancer site: telehealth availability for new patients with skin, colorectal, and breast cancer was 47%, 42%, and 38%, respectively. Of the facilities sampled, 47% offered telehealth for one cancer type, 40% for two cancer types, and 14% for all three cancer types. Rates of any telehealth access among the cancer types ranged from 61% at Community Cancer Programs to 100% at NCI Designated Programs. In multivariable logistic regression, facility type was significantly associated with telehealth access while factors such as bed size, ownership, and volume were not significantly associated. Conclusions: Although access to telehealth services for patients with cancer has increased, overall gaps in access remain. Within facility differences in telehealth access imply opportunities to better align services within institutions, though further investigation is warranted as these offerings mature.[Table: see text]

Mobile Health (mHealth) Apps for Self-Management of Depression or Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee Robinson ◽  
Radhika Narsinghani ◽  
Elaine Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders. Untreated or unmanaged depression and anxiety can lead to physical and/or behavioral health concerns. Many people suffering from depression and/or anxiety have inadequate access to health care and supports. Evidence supports that mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) can be beneficial in the management of chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE Compare consumer-directed mobile-health applications (mHealth apps) available for self-management of depression and/or anxiety. METHODS A systematic review of 93,849 consumer-apps was conducted using a 3-step inclusion-criteria. Step-one: available in English, downloadable, and aligned with established self-management program components. Step-two: defined depression/anxiety, described symptoms, and discussed greater than 2-management techniques. Step-three: screened for user-friendliness and self-management components (n=10). Apps were assessed for readability and validity. RESULTS Seventy-percent of mHealth apps incorporated 4-major self-management components. Eighty-percent of apps described at least three DSM-5 symptoms. Thirty- three percent of apps were 5-grade-levels higher than general US comprehension estimates. Only 40% of reviewed apps provided evidence-based self-management support and only 20% were affiliated with an accredited organization. CONCLUSIONS mHealth apps have the potential to reduce barriers to access to mental health treatment. Further research is necessary to understand how pharmacists can better support patient self-management of depression/anxiety with mHealth apps.

scholarly journals Use of mobile health applications for health-promoting behavior among individuals with chronic medical conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 205520761988218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asos Mahmood ◽  
Satish Kedia ◽  
David K Wyant ◽  
SangNam Ahn ◽  
Soumitra S Bhuyan
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Chronic Medical Conditions ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Chronic medical conditions (CCs) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Strategies to control CCs include targeting unhealthy behaviors, often through the use of patient empowerment tools, such as mobile health (mHealth) technology. However, no conclusive evidence exists that mHealth applications (apps) are effective among individuals with CCs for chronic disease self-management. Methods We used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 1, 2017). A sample of 1864 non-institutionalized US adults (≥18 years) who had a smartphone and/or a tablet computer and at least one CC was analyzed. Using multivariable logistic regressions, we assessed predisposing, enabling, and need predictors of three health-promoting behaviors (HPBs): tracking progress on a health-related goal, making a health-related decision, and health-related discussions with a care provider among smart device and mHealth apps owners. Results Compared to those without mHealth apps, individuals with mHealth apps had significantly higher odds of using their smart devices to track progress on a health-related goal (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.66–13.50, P <  .001), to make a health-related decision (aOR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16–2.71, P <  .01) and in health-related discussions with care providers (aOR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.26–3.19, P <  .01). Other significant factors of at least one type of HPB among smart device and mHealth apps users were age, gender, education, occupational status, having a regular provider, and self-rated general health. Conclusion mHealth apps are associated with increased rates of HPB among individuals with CCs. However, certain groups, like older adults, are most affected by a digital divide where they have lower access to mHealth apps and thus are not able to take advantage of these tools. Rigorous randomized clinical trials among various segments of the population and different health conditions are needed to establish the effectiveness of these mHealth apps. Healthcare providers should encourage validated mHealth apps for patients with CCs.

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