[Use of Mobile Health Applications in Primary Care Users]

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Patient Empowerment
• Primary Care

Background:

• Over 165,000 mobile health (mHealth) applications are available, offering patient empowerment and cost reduction.
• However, the reliability, safety, and quality of these mHealth apps vary significantly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the utilization of mHealth applications among patients within a Primary Care Center (CAP).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 274 patients (aged 16-65) with internet-enabled mobile devices attending a nursing consultation.
• Data was collected on mHealth app usage, information sources, and perceived drawbacks.

Main Results:

• 68% of patients use mHealth apps, primarily for physical exercise (63.4%) and diet (41.4%).
• Information sources include family/friends (71%) and the internet (45.9%), with concerns about app suitability (61.3%) and information reliability (58.1%).
• A significant majority (89% of users and 70% of non-users) desire professional guidance on mHealth apps.

Conclusions:

• Growing mHealth adoption necessitates professional guidance due to concerns over app reliability and quality.
• Health professionals should advise patients on selecting, interpreting, and using mHealth apps to ensure safety and efficacy.