Patient and Clinician Attitudes Toward Mobile Health Apps: Qualitative Study

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are widely available, and some have proven safe and effective for management of specific chronic conditions. Despite a high degree of interest, the potential of these technologies has yet to be realized. Patient and clinician attitudes are key factors that influence the adoption of mHealth apps but remain poorly understood, particularly in the United States.

This study aimed to identify both patient and clinician attitudes that can influence recommending and adopting mHealth apps.

Using well-established technology adoption and implementation science frameworks, this study included a deductive content analysis using a rapid qualitative analytic method. Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients and clinicians to identify technical and material, social and personal, and policy and organizational factors that can influence the recommendation or adoption of mHealth apps. The interviews and data analysis were performed between September 2023 and August 2024.

Participants included 20 clinicians (n=12, 60% general internists) with a mean time in practice of 17 (SD 11.6) years, and 28 patients with a mean age of 59 (SD 12.1) years. A total of 7 categories related to patients' and clinicians' attitudes toward mHealth apps emerged: (1) apps as tools to improve health by extending care, (2) the role of apps in enhancing the patient-clinician relationship, (3) the need for simplicity and efficiency in app design, (4) the influence of prior experience with mHealth apps, (5) comfort with technology, (6) recommendations from trusted sources, and (7) education and hands-on experience. Although similar factors were considered by patients and clinicians, their views about older adults' interest and ability to use mHealth apps differed.

Understanding patient and clinician views about mHealth apps provides critical insights for developing approaches to facilitate their use. These findings suggest patients and clinicians share similar views about the benefits of mHealth apps. Nonetheless, clinicians' perceptions about older patients' interest and ability to use mHealth apps may negatively impact recommendation of mHealth apps and subsequent adoption by older adults.