Background Despite the growing popularity of wearable health care devices (from fitness trackes such as Fitbit to smartwatches such as Apple Watch and more sophisticated devices that can collect information on metrics such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen levels), we have a limited understanding about the actual use and key factors affecting the use of these devices by US adults. Objective The main objective of this study was to examine the use of wearable health care devices and the key predictors of wearable use by US adults. Methods Using a national survey of 4551 respondents, we examined the usage patterns of wearable health care devices (use of wearables, frequency of their use, and willingness to share health data from a wearable with a provider) and a set of predictors that pertain to personal demographics (age, gender, race, education, marital status, and household income), individual health (general health, presence of chronic conditions, weight perceptions, frequency of provider visits, and attitude towards exercise), and technology self-efficacy using logistic regression analysis. Results About 30% (1266/4551) of US adults use wearable health care devices. Among the users, nearly half (47.33%) use the devices every day, with a majority (82.38% weighted) willing to share the health data from wearables with their care providers. Women (16.25%), White individuals (19.74%), adults aged 18-50 years (19.52%), those with some level of college education or college graduates (25.60%), and those with annual household incomes greater than US $75,000 (17.66%) were most likely to report using wearable health care devices. We found that the use of wearables declines with age: Adults aged >50 years were less likely to use wearables compared to those aged 18-34 years (odds ratios [OR] 0.46-0.57). Women (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.96-1.65), White individuals (OR 1.65, 95% CI 0.97-2.79), college graduates (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.31-3.51), and those with annual household incomes greater than US $75,000 (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.39-4.86) were more likely to use wearables. US adults who reported feeling healthier (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.98-1.39), were overweight (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.27), enjoyed exercise (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.43), and reported higher levels of technology self-efficacy (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.21-1.46) were more likely to adopt and use wearables for tracking or monitoring their health. Conclusions The potential of wearable health care devices is under-realized, with less than one-third of US adults actively using these devices. With only younger, healthier, wealthier, more educated, technoliterate adults using wearables, other groups have been left behind. More concentrated efforts by clinicians, device makers, and health care policy makers are needed to bridge this divide and improve the use of wearable devices among larger sections of American society.

Wearable healthcare devices offer tremendous promise to effectively track and improve the well-being of older adults. Yet, little is known about the use of wearable devices by older adults. Drawing upon a national survey in US with 1481 older adults, we examine the use of wearable healthcare devices and the key predictors of use viz. sociodemographic factors, health conditions, and technology self-efficacy. We also examine if the predictors are associated with elders’ willingness to share health data from wearable devices with healthcare providers. We find low level of wearable use (17.49%) among US older adults. We find significant positive associations between technology self-efficacy, health conditions, and demographic factors (gender, race, education, and annual household income) and use of wearable devices. Men were less likely (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.36–1.04) and Asians were more likely (OR = 2.60, 95% CI 0.89–7.64) to use wearables, as did healthy adults (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.37–2.87). Those who electronically communicated with their doctors (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.16–2.97), and those who searched online for health information (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.03–3.10) were more likely to use wearables. Though 80.15% of wearable users are willing to share health data with providers, those with greater technology self-efficacy and favorable attitudes toward exercise are more willing.

BACKGROUND Wearable healthcare devices offer tremendous promise to improve the health and well-being of individuals. Despite growing popularity of wearable healthcare devices, we have limited understanding about the actual use of these devices by US adults, and the key factors affecting the use. OBJECTIVE 1. To examine the usage patterns of wearable healthcare devices (use of wearable healthcare devices, frequency of their use and willingness to share health data from wearable with a provider) 2. To assess the associations between a set of predictors that pertain to personal demographics (age, gender, race, education, marital status and household income), individual's health (general health, presence of chronic conditions, weight perceptions and frequency of provider visits), technology self-efficacy and attitude towards exercise, with use of wearable healthcare device. METHODS We use data from National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey–5, Cycle 3 (HINTS), collected from January to April 2019 to examine our research questions. Multivariate logistic regression model is used to assess the associations between predictor variables and wearable use. RESULTS About 30% US adults use wearable healthcare devices. Among the users, nearly half (47.33%) use the devices every day with a majority (82.38%) willing to share the health data from wearables with their care providers. Women (16.25%), Whites (19.74%), adults aged between 18-50 (19.52%), those with some level of college education or college graduates (25.6%), and annual household incomes above $75K (17.66%) were most likely to report using wearable healthcare devices. We found that use of wearables declines with age: adults aged over 50 are less likely to use wearables as compared to those who are aged between 18-34 (Odds ratio OR values between 0.46 to 0.57. Women (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 0.96 -1.65), Whites (OR = 1.65; 95% CI 0.97 - 2.79), college graduates (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 0.31-3.51), and those annual household incomes above $75K (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.39 - 4.86 ) are more likely to use wearables. US adults who felt healthier (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 0.98 - 1.39), overweight (OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.06-1.27), enjoyed exercise (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.06 - 1.43) and those with higher levels of technology self-efficacy (OR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.21 - 1.46) are more likely to adopt and use wearables for tracking or monitoring their health . CONCLUSIONS The potential of healthcare wearable devices is under realized with less than one-third of US adults actively using it. With only young, healthier, wealthier, educated, techno-literate adults using wearables, other groups have been left behind. More concentrated efforts by clinicians, device makers and healthcare policy makers are needed to bridge this divide and improve the use of wearable devices among larger sections of American society.