Considerations for Nurses in Recommending mHealth Apps for People Living With Chronic Conditions: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Nursing Informatics
• Healthcare Technology Integration

Background:

• Mobile Health (mHealth) applications are vital for healthcare's digital transformation.
• Despite positive perceptions, integrating mHealth app recommendations into clinical practice remains limited.
• Factors influencing nurses' mHealth app recommendations are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing nurses' recommendations of mHealth apps for individuals with or at risk of chronic conditions.
• To identify key considerations for effective mHealth app integration in nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive study was conducted.
• Semi-structured interviews were performed with 13 nurses via videoconference.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: clinical and technical considerations.
• Clinical factors included app credibility, trustworthiness, accessibility, and personalization.
• Technical factors encompassed data security, privacy, usability, app overload, and interoperability.

Conclusions:

• Understanding nurses' considerations is crucial for integrating mHealth into chronic disease management.
• Future integration should focus on reliable patient access, personalization, and EHR interoperability.
• User-friendly interfaces and evidence-based content are essential for mHealth apps.