Unraveling the Factors Associated With Digital Health Intervention Uptake: Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Public Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) necessitate lifestyle behavior change for prevention.
• Digital health interventions (DHIs) offer scalable solutions but face challenges in equitable reach.
• Understanding factors influencing DHI uptake is crucial for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between socioeconomic factors, health status, lifestyle behaviors, and e-service attitudes/experiences with DHI uptake.
• To identify key predictors of successful DHI engagement in a population-based sample.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 6978 participants (aged 20-74) from the Healthy Finland survey.
• DHI uptake (BitHabit app) defined as successful registration and participation.
• Predictors analyzed using logistic regression, combining national registry and self-reported survey data.

Main Results:

• DHI uptake was 18.5% (1287 participants).
• Higher uptake observed in women, middle-aged individuals, higher income, and more educated participants.
• Positive associations found with healthier lifestyles (diet, non-smoking, sleep, functional capacity, self-rated health).
• Strongest predictors included prior e-service use, perceived competence, low data security concerns, belief in digital benefits, and good internet connectivity.

Conclusions:

• DHI uptake is significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, health, lifestyle, and especially digital service experience.
• Individuals with lower socioeconomic status, poorer health, and less digital engagement are less likely to adopt DHIs.
• Targeted strategies are essential to mitigate digital health inequities and ensure broader DHI reach and engagement.