Consumption Patterns and Perceived Usefulness of Mhealth Apps Among Youth

Abstract

The rapid advancement in new Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed the ways people take care of their health. The significant role of new media in health-related behaviors at both macro and micro levels is a recognized fact. mHealth apps are amongst the advancements which are benefiting human health at an individual level. This increased usage of mHA led the researchers to explore the ways youth consumes these Apps and the benefits they perceive to attain for their physical and psychological health. The data on consumption patterns and perceived usefulness were measured on a five-point Likert scale. The finding of the study suggested that most of the users reported having one to three health apps on their mobile phones on average and found them useful to get both PHI (Prevent Health Information) and CHI (Curative Health Information). The study concluded that these apps were creating awareness among youth and benefiting them by gratifying both their physical as well as their psychological health related needs. Keywords: mHealth apps, Youth, Perceived Usefulness.