[Citizen perspectives on doctor-prescribed mobile health apps and information and communication technology usage...

As eHealth and mHealth are expanding the concerns about the guarantees that must surround these technologies are increasing.

To get to know the opinion of the public on the use and willingness towards communication with health professionals based on new technologies and the use of health apps recommended by those professionals, while identifying the sociodemographic or health differences within the population.

A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted within the Andalusian Barometer about Mobile Health Apps based on telephone surveys (2016) focused on Andalusian citizens over 18 years old. A combined multi-stage random sample was used, proportionally distributed by province, type of home, gender, and age group. Sample size n=1069 individuals. Frequency distribution analysis, contingency tables and chi-squared test were performed using SPSS software.

Only 0.7% of citizens, especially those with higher education, have communicated with health professionals using information and communication technologies (ICT). Just over half (55%) of the population who has never communicated in that way would like to do so. Only 1.3% of citizens have ever received any recommendation on health apps given by any health professional, whereas 73.8% would be willing to use a health app recommended by professionals. The population groups that show greater willingness in both issues are those citizens under 44 years old, students or citizens with secondary or higher education, active working population, citizens with good or very good health condition, and those without any chronic disease diagnosed. No significant differences were found as regards the variables of gender, type of home, or living with people with disabilities.

Although there is a high willingness by citizens to use ICT in professional-patient relationships, and to receive recommendations on health apps, they are still not very common. The results obtained are consistent with previous studies, especially regarding the influence of sociodemographic factors in the use and willingness to use of ICTs and recommended apps.