Willingness to Exchange Health Information via Mobile Devices: Findings From a Population-Based Survey

Abstract

PURPOSEThe rapid proliferation of mobile devices offers unprecedented opportunities for patients and health care professionals to exchange health information electronically, but little is known about patients' willingness to exchange various types of health information using these devices. We examined willingness to exchange different types of health information via mobile devices, and assessed whether sociodemographic characteristics and trust in clinicians were associated with willingness in a nationally representative sample. METHODSWe analyzed data for 3,165 patients captured in the 2013 Health Information National Trends Survey. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to test differences in willingness. Ordinal logistic regression analysis assessed correlates of willingness to exchange 9 types of information separately. RESULTSParticipants were very willing to exchange appointment reminders (odds ratio [OR] = 6.66; 95% CI, 5.68-7.81), general health tips (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.74-2.38), medication reminders (OR = 2.73; 95% CI, 2.35-3.19), laboratory/test results (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.62-1.92), vital signs (OR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.48-1.80), lifestyle behaviors (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.24-1.58), and symptoms (OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.46-1.79) as compared with diagnostic information. Older adults had lower odds of being more willing to exchange any type of information. Education, income, and trust in health care professional information correlated with willingness to exchange certain types of information.CONCLUSIONS Respondents were less willing to exchange via mobile devices information that may be considered sensitive or complex. Age, socioeconomic factors, and trust in professional information were associated with willingness to engage in mobile health information exchange. Both information type and demographic group should be considered when developing and tailoring mobile technologies for patient-clinician communication. Ann Fam Med 2016;14:34-40. doi: 10.1370/afm.1888. INTRODUCTIONT he ownership of mobile devices and the use of these devices for health purposes have been increasing rapidly.1-4 These increases transcend nearly all sociodemographic categories, 2,4 providing new opportunities to deliver health information to hard-to-reach or underserved populations. Health information exchange (HIE) between health care professionals and patients, in particular, has been increasing, allowing both parties to access and communicate health information electronically. Others have noted that mobile technologies may be a solution to the growing demand for exchanging one's information electronically, and may be a promising strategy for cancer prevention and control. [5][6][7] The studies that have examined HIE, however, have been primarily Internet based, with little focus on mobile devices. These Internet-based studies have found that sociodemographic characteristics and the type of information that is being shared influence attitudes toward HIE. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] An initial qualitati...

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