Islam Sheikh Mohammed Sharifu, Singh Ashal, Moreno Sebastiat V, Akhter Sadika, Chandir Moses Jeban
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Int J Med Inform. 2025 Feb;194:105706. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105706. Epub 2024 Nov 19.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and is predominantly associated with a cluster of lifestyle risk factors. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer the potential to overcome traditional barriers by supporting healthy lifestyle behaviours. However, knowledge about perceptions of mHealth lifestyle apps among healthcare professionals and people with CVD is sparse. This study examined barriers and facilitators of using the mHealth apps for healthy lifestyle support among healthcare professionals and CVD patients.
We conducted an in-depth qualitative study employing individual semi-structured interviews with 8 CVD healthcare professionals and 4 patients with CVD in Australia. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their perceptions and experiences with mHealth lifestyle apps. A thematic analysis approach was used to establish perceived barriers and facilitators for mHealth lifestyle apps.
Most participants perceived mHealth lifestyle apps as useful. The key perceptions of facilitators included features for tailoring to personal needs, low costs and wide availability of the apps and addressing barriers to use like reminders. Both healthcare professionals and patients identified the strengths and weaknesses regarding the usefulness of mHealth lifestyle apps. Healthcare professionals and patients perceived several barriers to mHealth app use including trustworthiness, scientific validity, language barriers, the capability of using an app or digital literacy, costs for some commercial apps, and accessibility of an app for low-income groups.
Lifestyle apps provide an opportunity for better patient and healthcare professional communications, however, several barriers including improving digital health literacy and scientific validations of the apps are required before being recommended in clinical practice. Findings from this study can inform potential mHealth lifestyle app design to meet the demands of users. Addressing these barriers effectively can enhance the adoption and efficacy of mHealth apps, ultimately contributing to improved CVD management and healthier lifestyle behaviours.
心血管疾病（CVD）是全球主要死因，主要与一系列生活方式风险因素相关。移动健康（mHealth）应用程序有潜力通过支持健康的生活方式行为来克服传统障碍。然而，关于医疗保健专业人员和心血管疾病患者对移动健康生活方式应用程序的认知的知识却很匮乏。本研究调查了医疗保健专业人员和心血管疾病患者使用移动健康应用程序支持健康生活方式的障碍和促进因素。
我们在澳大利亚对8名心血管疾病医疗保健专业人员和4名心血管疾病患者进行了深入的定性研究，采用个人半结构化访谈。参与者被问及关于他们对移动健康生活方式应用程序的认知和体验的开放式问题。采用主题分析方法来确定移动健康生活方式应用程序的感知障碍和促进因素。
大多数参与者认为移动健康生活方式应用程序很有用。促进因素的关键认知包括根据个人需求定制的功能、应用程序的低成本和广泛可用性以及解决诸如提醒等使用障碍。医疗保健专业人员和患者都确定了移动健康生活方式应用程序有用性的优点和缺点。医疗保健专业人员和患者认为移动健康应用程序使用存在几个障碍，包括可信度、科学有效性、语言障碍、使用应用程序的能力或数字素养、一些商业应用程序的成本以及低收入群体使用应用程序的可及性。
生活方式应用程序为改善患者与医疗保健专业人员之间的沟通提供了机会，然而，在临床实践中推荐之前，需要克服几个障碍，包括提高数字健康素养和应用程序的科学验证。本研究的结果可为潜在的移动健康生活方式应用程序设计提供参考，以满足用户需求。有效解决这些障碍可以提高移动健康应用程序的采用率和效果，最终有助于改善心血管疾病管理和更健康的生活方式行为。
