Mobile Health Applications: A Cross-sectional Study of Awareness, Attitudes, and Practices among Medical Students in Malaysia

Abstract

Background: The popularity of mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) in health and medical education is rapidly growing, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we aimed to assess awareness, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with mHealth app usage among medical students.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical students at a government university in Sarawak, Malaysia, from February to April 2021. Validated questionnaires were administered to all consenting students. In addition to basic demographic information, these questionnaires included questions on awareness of, attitudes toward, and practices with mHealth apps concerned with medical education, health and fitness, and COVID-19 management. Results: Study respondents had favorable attitudes toward mHealth apps [medical education (61.8%), health and fitness (76.3%), and COVID-19 management (82.7%)]. Overall, respondents’ mean attitude scores were four out of five for all three app categories. However, respondents showed higher usage of COVID-19 management apps (73.5%) than medical education (35.7%) and fitness (39.0%) apps. Usage of all three app categories was significantly associated with the respondent’s awareness and attitude. Respondents who were in the top 20% for household income and duration of study were more likely to use medical education apps. A higher percentage of respondents in the top 20% household income group used COVID-19 apps compared to those in the other income groups. The most common barrier to the use of apps was uncertainty regarding the most suitable apps to choose.Conclusion: Our study highlighted a discrepancy between awareness of mHealth apps and positive attitudes toward them and their use. Recognition of barriers to the use of mHealth apps by relevant authorities may be necessary to increase the usage of these apps.