Lee Jun Yang, Wong Chee Piau, Lee Shaun Wen Huey
School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
Mhealth. 2020 Jan 5;6:6. doi: 10.21037/mhealth.2019.09.16. eCollection 2020.
Information and communication technology can be a useful tool to improve population health especially in low-middle income countries. However, the full potential of m-health may be limited by the users' health and technology literacy. This study aims to explore the m-health and technology literacy among Malaysians, and factors that may promote the use of m-health.
A cross-sectional study was performed among residents residing around Klang and Petaling district in Selangor, Malaysia from November 2015 to January 2017. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the predictors of mobile device and health apps usage and examine the association between apps use and intention to change behavior with sociodemographic predictors.
A total of 4,504 respondents participated in our survey. Most respondents reported that they owned a mobile or smartphone, which was commonly used to make calls and deliver text messages. However, only one-fifth (20.4%) of respondents were familiar with the term m-health or had used a health related application, with millennial (individuals aged ≤39 years) generally more aware of the term m-health and were more likely to use m-health as a tool for health management. The most commonly used application were for promoting adherence as well as self-efficacy (e.g., lifestyle advice). Other factors associated with higher levels of m-health use were individuals with higher level of education and individuals taking multiple medications.
While most Malaysian were not familiar with m-health, they reported to have a positive attitude towards m-health. Malaysians were willing to use m-health to manage their health conditions but expressed that they required further education and training. As m-health is still at its infancy in Malaysia, there is potential to further develop m-health as an innovative solution to manage the population health.
信息通信技术可以成为改善人群健康的有用工具，尤其是在中低收入国家。然而，移动医疗的全部潜力可能会受到用户健康素养和技术素养的限制。本研究旨在探索马来西亚人对移动医疗的了解程度和技术素养，以及可能促进移动医疗使用的因素。
2015年11月至2017年1月，在马来西亚雪兰莪州巴生和八打灵再也地区周边居住的居民中进行了一项横断面研究。使用多变量逻辑回归模型评估移动设备和健康应用程序使用的预测因素，并检验应用程序使用与改变行为意图之间与社会人口统计学预测因素的关联。
共有4504名受访者参与了我们的调查。大多数受访者表示他们拥有手机或智能手机，这些设备通常用于打电话和发短信。然而，只有五分之一（20.4%）的受访者熟悉移动医疗这个术语或使用过与健康相关的应用程序，千禧一代（年龄≤39岁的个体）通常更了解移动医疗这个术语，并且更有可能将移动医疗作为健康管理工具。最常用的应用程序是用于促进依从性和自我效能感（例如生活方式建议）。与更高水平的移动医疗使用相关的其他因素是教育水平较高的个体和正在服用多种药物的个体。
虽然大多数马来西亚人不熟悉移动医疗，但他们对移动医疗持积极态度。马来西亚人愿意使用移动医疗来管理自己的健康状况，但表示他们需要进一步的教育和培训。由于移动医疗在马来西亚仍处于起步阶段，有潜力将移动医疗进一步发展成为管理人群健康的创新解决方案。
