Utilisation and perceptions towards smart device visual acuity assessment in Australia: a mixed methods approach.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Mobile health products are increasingly prevalent, yet their adoption and specific applications like visual acuity (VA) assessment tools require investigation.
• Understanding public and clinician perceptions is crucial for the successful integration of digital health solutions in eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the utilization of mobile health products in Australia.
• To assess societal and clinician attitudes towards smartphone-based visual acuity (VA) assessment tools.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered to 1016 Australian adults.
• Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with six eye health clinicians in Melbourne.
• Data analysis involved thematic analysis of interviews and quantitative analysis of survey responses.

Main Results:

• Only 14.4% of the surveyed population had used a mobile health product. Younger age, male gender, and higher income were associated with increased likelihood of use.
• 72% of participants would use smartphone-based VA tools if accuracy matched human assessors, citing convenience and cost savings as key benefits.
• Major concerns included test accuracy (50.6%), lack of personal contact (18.3%), and data security (11.9%). Clinicians noted potential for refractive error detection but worried about misuse and inability to detect pathology.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of the Australian population remains unfamiliar with mobile health products.
• Despite potential benefits, widespread adoption of smartphone-based VA assessment tools is hindered by persistent concerns regarding accuracy and data privacy among both the public and clinicians.