Bridging the knowledge gap: a mixed-methods study on general practitioners' information needs for mHealth apps in...

Hypertension remains a critical public health issue in Germany, affecting millions of individuals. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) offer promising solutions for improving patient outcomes and adherence in hypertension management. Despite their advantages in healthcare, the adoption of mHealth apps by general practitioners (GPs) in Germany remains limited to date.

This study aimed to explore the needs, attitudes, and recommendation behaviours of GPs regarding mHealth apps in hypertension management.

A mixed-methods approach was utilised, starting with a quantitative questionnaire of 205 GPs in Berlin and Brandenburg to collect representative data on attitudes, information needs, and app recommendation behaviour. Two focus groups (N = 15) provided qualitative insights into the reasons behind observed behaviours and potential solutions for addressing information gaps.

Of the 205 participating GPs, 41.5% currently recommend mHealth apps, while 77.6% expressed a willingness to recommend them in the future. Positive attitudes toward mHealth apps were widespread, with 37.6% viewing their integration into hypertension management positively and 43.4% somewhat positively. Furthermore, 54.1% rated the usefulness of mHealth apps as high or very high, and 35.1% provided similar ratings for user-friendliness. However, 59.1% reported feeling poorly or not informed at all about mHealth apps for hypertension management. Positive attitudes significantly increased the likelihood of recommending mHealth apps (G = 0.955, p < 0.001), as did higher ratings for usefulness (G = 0.887, p < 0.001) and user-friendliness (G = 0.625, p < 0.001). Notably, a high need for information about app functionalities (G = 0.617, p < 0.001) and available app offerings (G = 0.710, p < 0.001) was strongly associated with willingness to recommend apps. The focus groups highlighted gaps in systematic information dissemination and practical integration of mHealth apps, with participants calling for targeted educational resources and improved technical support.

While GPs in Berlin and Brandenburg are generally willing to integrate mHealth apps into hypertension management, information gaps remain. Providing tailored educational resources and fostering collaboration among stakeholders could improve the uptake and effective use of mHealth apps in practice. Further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between knowledge levels and recommendation behaviours.

Identifier DRKS00029761 , Registration Date: 27.07.2022.