BACKGROUND: Smartphone-mediated mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to assist patients with medication adherence and disease monitoring. This study aimed to describe the awareness and usage of, and attitudes towards, mHealth among smartphone-owning patients in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. METHODS: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was systematically offered to patients at the Singapore General Hospital from August to September 2018. Participants were included if they were at least 18 years old, owned a smartphone, and could speak and read simple English. No identifiable data was collected. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with awareness and usage of, and attitudes towards, mHealth. RESULTS: Four-hundred and two eligible responses were received, with most participants reporting having completed tertiary education (63.7%) and having chronic medical conditions (71.1%), with a mean age of about 43 years. On average, participants were aware of 3.7 out of 7 mHealth functions and used 1.9 functions. Most patients were aware that smartphones could be used for general health/fitness tracking, obtaining health information, and appointment management. Most (76.3%) participants were keen to learn to use mHealth in future, and 63.2% agreed that mHealth could help them better manage their health. CONCLUSIONS: Although mHealth usage among patients was low, most patients held positive attitudes towards mHealth. For mHealth to fulfill its potential, strategies to improve the awareness and usage among patients need to be explored. 2019 mHealth. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Smartphone-mediated mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to assist patients with medication adherence and disease monitoring. This study aimed to describe the awareness and usage of, and attitudes towards, mHealth among smartphone-owning patients in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. METHODS: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was systematically offered to patients at the Singapore General Hospital from August to September 2018. Participants were included if they were at least 18 years old, owned a smartphone, and could speak and read simple English. No identifiable data was collected. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with awareness and usage of, and attitudes towards, mHealth. RESULTS: Four-hundred and two eligible responses were received, with most participants reporting having completed tertiary education (63.7%) and having chronic medical conditions (71.1%), with a mean age of about 43 years. On average, participants were aware of 3.7 out of 7 mHealth functions and used 1.9 functions. Most patients were aware that smartphones could be used for general health/fitness tracking, obtaining health information, and appointment management. Most (76.3%) participants were keen to learn to use mHealth in future, and 63.2% agreed that mHealth could help them better manage their health. CONCLUSIONS: Although mHealth usage among patients was low, most patients held positive attitudes towards mHealth. For mHealth to fulfill its potential, strategies to improve the awareness and usage among patients need to be explored. 2019 mHealth. All rights reserved.
Entities:
Keywords:
Mobile health; Singapore; health knowledge, attitudes, practice; smartphone
Authors: Alexander G Logan; M Jane Irvine; Warren J McIsaac; Andras Tisler; Peter G Rossos; Anthony Easty; Denice S Feig; Joseph A Cafazzo Journal: Hypertension Date: 2012-05-21 Impact factor: 10.190
Authors: Jay Thakkar; Rahul Kurup; Tracey-Lea Laba; Karla Santo; Aravinda Thiagalingam; Anthony Rodgers; Mark Woodward; Julie Redfern; Clara K Chow Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 21.873
Authors: Wee Shiong Lim; Sweet Fun Wong; Ian Leong; Philip Choo; Weng Sun Pang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-11-24 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Hui Zhang; Ying Jiang; Hoang D Nguyen; Danny Chiang Choon Poo; Wenru Wang Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2017-03-14 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Sayem Ahmed; Md Zahid Hasan; Mary MacLennan; Farzana Dorin; Mohammad Wahid Ahmed; Md Mehedi Hasan; Shaikh Mehdi Hasan; Mohammad Touhidul Islam; Jahangir A M Khan Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-03-27 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader Jilani; Md Moniruzzaman; Mouri Dey; Edris Alam; Md Aftab Uddin Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-27 Impact factor: 3.390