The Association of Mobile Health Applications with Self-Management Behaviors among Adults with Chronic Conditions in the United States

Hao Wang, Amy F. Ho, R. Constance Wiener and Usha Sambamoorthi
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Hao Wang: Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
Amy F. Ho: Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
R. Constance Wiener: Department of Dental Practice and Rural Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Usha Sambamoorthi: Texas Center for Health Disparities, Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Mobile applications related to health and wellness (mHealth apps) are widely used to self-manage chronic conditions. However, research on whether mHealth apps facilitate self-management behaviors of individuals with chronic conditions is sparse. We aimed to evaluate the association of mHealth apps with different types of self-management behaviors among patients with chronic diseases in the United States. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study. We used data from adult participants (unweighted n = 2340) of the Health Information National Trends Survey in 2018 and 2019. We identified three self-management behaviors: (1) resource utilization using electronic personal health records; (2) treatment discussions with healthcare providers; and (3) making healthcare decisions. We analyzed the association of mHealth apps to self-management behaviors with multivariable logistic and ordinal regressions. Results: Overall, 59.8% of adults (unweighted number = 1327) used mHealth apps. Adults using mHealth apps were more likely to use personal health records (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI 2.26–4.28), contact healthcare providers using technology (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.93–3.78), and make decisions on chronic disease management (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.93–3.49). The mHealth apps were associated with higher levels of self-management involvement (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI 2.63–4.72). Conclusion: Among individuals with chronic conditions, having mHealth apps was associated with positive self-management behaviors.

Keywords: mHealth apps; self-management behaviors; chronic diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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