Health App Use Among US Mobile Phone Owners: A National Survey

Abstract

BackgroundMobile phone health apps may now seem to be ubiquitous, yet much remains unknown with regard to their usage. Information is limited with regard to important metrics, including the percentage of the population that uses health apps, reasons for adoption/nonadoption, and reasons for noncontinuance of use.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine health app use among mobile phone owners in the United States.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1604 mobile phone users throughout the United States. The 36-item survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, history of and reasons for health app use/nonuse, perceived effectiveness of health apps, reasons for stopping use, and general health status.ResultsA little over half (934/1604, 58.23%) of mobile phone users had downloaded a health-related mobile app. Fitness and nutrition were the most common categories of health apps used, with most respondents using them at least daily. Common reasons for not having downloaded apps were lack of interest, cost, and concern about apps collecting their data. Individuals more likely to use health apps tended to be younger, have higher incomes, be more educated, be Latino/Hispanic, and have a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range (all P<.05). Cost was a significant concern among respondents, with a large proportion indicating that they would not pay anything for a health app. Interestingly, among those who had downloaded health apps, trust in their accuracy and data safety was quite high, and most felt that the apps had improved their health. About half of the respondents (427/934, 45.7%) had stopped using some health apps, primarily due to high data entry burden, loss of interest, and hidden costs.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that while many individuals use health apps, a substantial proportion of the population does not, and that even among those who use health apps, many stop using them. These data suggest that app developers need to better address consumer concerns, such as cost and high data entry burden, and that clinical trials are necessary to test the efficacy of health apps to broaden their appeal and adoption.

Present and Future Trends in Consumer Health Informatics and Patient-Generated Health Data

“…Many have observed the problems but so far no strong evidence has emerged for the right solutions yet. While only 10% of the population are using health-tracking devices/apps to help manage chronic conditions [52], the proportion of US health consumers accessing their health records has increased to 45% in 2016 (an increase of 67% in two years) [53]. The increasing access and connection between clinics and homes have indicated new opportunities in bridging the gaps.…”

Reviewing Apps: Taking Evaluation Skills beyond the Library

“…Adults own smartphones and over 12% are "smartphone-only" internet users -who get all of their internet access through a smartphone instead of traditional home broadband services. Over half of U.S. cell phone users report downloading at least one healthrelated app and using them daily (Krebs & Duncan, 2015). A 2015 systematic review (Payne, Lister, West, & Bernhardt) studied the literature on health apps and found the most studies focused on evaluating apps for disease prevention and management, monitoring health behaviors and vitals, content analysis and utility, and user experience.…”

Mindfulness-Based Symptom and Stress Management Apps for Adults With Chronic Lung Disease: Systematic Search in App Stores (Preprint)

“…According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of internet users say they have searched online for health information [13]. Another recent national study suggests more than half of mobile phone users have downloaded a healthrelated mobile application (henceforth referred to as an app) [14]. These users were also found to place high trust in these apps' accuracy and experienced positive health effects [14].…”

“…Another recent national study suggests more than half of mobile phone users have downloaded a healthrelated mobile application (henceforth referred to as an app) [14]. These users were also found to place high trust in these apps' accuracy and experienced positive health effects [14]. Despite the frequency and use of these technologies, there is no regulatory authority to validate the legitimacy of health-related content published through these commercial apps, nor is there a mechanism to enforce standards to ensure the information is accessible by diverse populations [15].…”