Facilitators and barriers to using physical activity smartphone apps among Chinese patients with chronic diseases

Abstract

BackgroundSmartphones and their applications (apps) impact society and health care. With the growth of smartphone users and app downloads in China, patients with chronic diseases have access to a self-management strategy for physical activity. Although studies report physical activity apps improve the physical activity of patients, data is limited concerning their use of these apps. Therefore, this study investigated the current usage, willingness to use, and barriers to using physical activity apps of Chinese patients with chronic diseases.MethodsWe designed a questionnaire to collect data from chronic disease patients in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, which was sent to 250 patients in four departments.ResultsTwo hundred eighteen questionnaires were returned (87.2% response rate). Most (92.7%) respondents owned a smartphone, 34.9% had used a physical activity app, and 18.8% were current users. Additionally, 53.7% were willing to use a physical activity app designed for them. Respondents more likely to use physical activity apps were younger (i.e., ≤ 44 years), more educated, current smartphone users, and previous users of physical activity apps; moreover, they believed they needed exercise, their disease required exercise instruction and support, and their physical status needed monitored when exercising (p < 0.05). Main barriers to using apps reported were insufficient function, difficulty of use, extra cost, and security issues.ConclusionsOur results indicate sizeable smartphone ownership among Chinese patients with chronic diseases; moreover, over half of our participants report they would use a physical activity app designed for them. This information can be leveraged by healthcare workers managing patients with chronic diseases.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12911-017-0446-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Optimising epilepsy management with a smartphone application: a randomised controlled trial

“…In intention-to-treat analyses, the incremental increases in the app group in total score (22.7 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.1-24.2 points), and subscale scores -information (6.6 points; 95% CI, 5.9-7.3 points), medication (7.3 points; 95% CI, 6.8-7.9 points), lifestyle (1.2 points; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5 points), safety (5.6 points; 95% CI, 5.2-6.1 points), and seizure management (1.9 points; 95% CI, 1.6-2. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], and of messaging activities 35 (IQR, 24-76). In the linear regression analysis, the only factor significantly associated with change in C-ESMS score was baseline C-ESMS score (β = −0.633; P < 0.001).…”

“…With regard to specific app functions (see Supporting Information for item numbers), the medication calendar may improve information (item 7), seizure (11,15), and medication management (16, 24, 27, 28, 30); the online educational forums and blogs component could improve lifestyle (2,13,14,18,22,33), safety (6,17,23,29,34,36), medication (8,9), and seizure management (10, 32); prompt online reports of seizure attack and consultation could improve information (1, 3, 5), seizure (12), safety (31), and medication management (25); and the online survey questionnaires component could help assess other user characteristics, such as mood state and sleep quality.…”

“…Given the widespread use of smartphones, mobile phone applications (apps) and online communities have emerged as tools for managing some chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension . We have previously established that people in China with epilepsy and their caregivers are willing to use smartphone apps . As there have been few investigations of the feasibility and efficacy of epilepsy‐specific apps in resource‐poor countries, we developed and undertook the preliminary validation of the Chinese Epilepsy Self‐Management Scale (C‐ESMS) for assessing the quality of self‐management .…”

“…[6][7][8][9] We have previously established that people in China with epilepsy and their caregivers are willing to use smartphone apps. [10][11][12] As there have been few investigations of the feasibility and efficacy of epilepsy-specific apps in resource-poor countries, we developed and undertook the preliminary validation of the Chinese Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (C-ESMS) for assessing the quality of self-management. 13 We also designed an app prototype and enrolled participants to test its practicability and effectiveness in a pilot study, the results of which we report in this article.…”

The Impact of the eHealth Technologies on the Chronically-ill Patient�s choice of Same Hospital Again (Preprint)

“…Internet technology has been widely used in the Chinese medical system, and has a significant influence on the medical treatment of patients with chronic diseases [52,53]. Empirical results also show that the application of the eHealth can significantly change medical treatment choices among patients with chronic diseases.…”