Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Australia.
Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Australia.
Int J Med Inform. 2024 Sep;189:105502. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105502. Epub 2024 May 25.
Although evidence of the global effectiveness and usability of mobile health (mHealth) apps as non-drug interventions is growing, older adults often demonstrate low adoption rates of these apps. This study aims to identify the perspectives of older adults on introducing and adopting mHealth apps in Australia and Germany.
We conducted two online cross-sectional surveys to examine factors from contextual, technological and personal perspectives that influence older adults in mHealth app adoption. Using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and exploratory factor analysis, we identified the differences and similarities between respondents' perspectives across two countries.
A total of 290 respondents (149, Australia; 141, Germany) completed the survey. Older adults' ability to use a mHealth app, the user-friendliness of the app, their positive self-efficacy regarding their health and resource availability for using mHealth apps were related to intended adoption. Differences between Germany and Australia were found in issues concerned with data sharing and empowerment by the doctor, while similarities were related to trust in the doctor and their treatment approaches.
This study highlights participants' perspectives and attitudes towards mHealth app use, unmet needs and barriers, and the facilitating influences in the two countries. These insights can be used to inform the development and implementation of mHealth apps and to construct tailored strategies to increase the adoption rates of mHealth apps among older adults and to maximise their potential benefits.
尽管移动健康（mHealth）应用作为非药物干预措施在全球范围内的有效性和可用性的证据不断增加，但老年人对这些应用的采用率往往较低。本研究旨在确定澳大利亚和德国老年人对引入和采用 mHealth 应用的看法。
我们进行了两项在线横断面调查，以研究从环境、技术和个人角度影响老年人采用 mHealth 应用的因素。我们使用描述性统计、卡方检验和探索性因子分析，确定了两国受访者观点之间的差异和相似之处。
共有 290 名受访者（澳大利亚 149 名，德国 141 名）完成了调查。老年人使用 mHealth 应用的能力、应用的用户友好性、他们对自己健康的积极自我效能感以及使用 mHealth 应用的资源可用性与预期采用相关。在德国和澳大利亚之间存在差异的问题涉及医生的数据共享和授权，而相似之处则与对医生的信任及其治疗方法有关。
本研究强调了参与者对 mHealth 应用使用、未满足的需求和障碍以及两国促进因素的看法。这些见解可用于为 mHealth 应用的开发和实施提供信息，并制定针对老年人的策略来提高 mHealth 应用的采用率，以最大程度地发挥其潜在效益。
