mHealth Use, Preferences, Barriers, and eHealth Literacy Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Survey Study

Mobile health (mHealth), defined as health care facilitated by mobile devices, offers a promising strategy for enhancing disease management and treatment for patients with chronic conditions. However, there is limited information about how patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use mHealth and their digital preferences.

The aim of the study was to investigate the use of mHealth as well as the preferences, obstacles, and eHealth literacy reported by patients with IBD in Germany.

In April and May 2023, we sequentially enrolled patients diagnosed with IBD, including Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, to participate in a paper-based survey. The survey included questions on sociodemographic details, health characteristics, mHealth use, internet use, eHealth literacy (measured with the eHealth Literacy Scale), and preferences regarding communication and information.

Of the 200 surveyed participants, almost all (197/200, 98.5%) reported regular smartphone use, and more than two-thirds (139/200, 69.5%) indicated regular engagement with social media. Most of the respondents (168/200, 84%) expressed the belief that incorporating medical apps into their routine could positively impact their health. However, only 25 (12.5%) of the 200 patients acknowledged using medical apps, of which just 2 apps were IBD specific, used by only a few (n=3, 12%). Furthermore, awareness of useful websites or mobile apps tailored for IBD was limited (45/200, 22.5%). Nearly all participants (196/200, 98%) expressed willingness to share app data for research purposes, and most (171/200, 85.5%) consented to transmit app data to their treating physicians. A large majority (175/200, 87.5%) indicated readiness to regularly input data into an app, with a preferred duration of up to 5 minutes (109/200, 54.5%) and weekly input frequency (76/200, 38%). For an IBD-specific app, the most frequently requested functions were electronic prescriptions (110/200, 55%) and a newsletter about new scientific work and clinical studies (94/200, 47%). Usability and security were identified as key app attributes. The internet was the predominant source of health-related information (180/200, 90%). The average eHealth literacy score, measured with the eHealth Literacy Scale, was high (mean 28.9, SD 5.4; range 8-40), with a positive correlation observed between higher eHealth literacy and factors such as younger age and more frequent internet use for health information.

Patients with IBD are well prepared and motivated to use mHealth technologies to better understand their chronic condition and optimize treatment. However, their enthusiasm is tempered by the currently low adoption of mHealth. To fully harness the potential of mHealth in IBD treatment, effective and tailored mHealth solutions, guidance for their implementation, and patient education are needed.