Barriers, Perceptions, and Predictors for Utilizing Health-Related Technology Among Individuals Receiving Radiation...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Digital Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) applications offer potential benefits for patient communication and monitoring in clinical care.
• Widespread adoption of mHealth by cancer patients is limited, necessitating further investigation into technological access and engagement factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate technology access among radiation oncology patients.
• To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mHealth engagement willingness.
• To identify factors influencing mHealth adoption in radiation oncology care.

Main Methods:

• A survey study was conducted with 318 adult radiation oncology patients from 2019 to 2022.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with mHealth utilization.
• A Technology Barrier Score (TBScore) was developed to quantify adoption barriers.

Main Results:

• Key factors influencing mHealth willingness included age over 65, new patient status, income over $50K, and smartphone ownership.
• The post-COVID cohort demonstrated significantly higher willingness to use mHealth compared to the pre-COVID cohort.
• Technology literacy and time commitment were identified as significant barriers to mHealth adoption.

Conclusions:

• Patient demographics (age, income, status) and smartphone ownership significantly impact mHealth utilization willingness in radiation oncology.
• The COVID-19 pandemic increased patient willingness to engage with mHealth solutions.
• The TBScore is a valuable tool for identifying patients needing support for mHealth adoption, addressing barriers like technology literacy and time commitment.