A Comprehensive Profile of Those Who Have Health-Related Apps.

Abstract

This study investigated sociodemographic, health-related, technological, and motivational factors associated with having health-related apps. Focusing on motivational factors, this study chose five general healthy intentions (about fruit, vegetable, and soda intake, weight control, and amount of exercise) and examined whether those with intention to change their current state (change group) differ from those who want to maintain (maintain group) or pay no attention to their current state (no attention group). A secondary analysis of data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 4 (Cycle 4), collected from a representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, was conducted. Only responses from Internet users were analyzed ( N = 2,802). Regarding sociodemographics, younger individuals and those with higher income were more likely to have health apps. Hispanics and the less educated were less likely to have health apps. Also, technological factors, such as smartphone and Wi-Fi use, were associated with having apps. Regarding motivational factors, Model 1 (no attention group as a reference group) showed differences in having apps between those who wanted to change their weight and those who paid no attention. Model 2 (maintain group as a reference group) revealed a difference between those who tried to change the amount of exercise and those who maintained it. The findings provided a comprehensive profile of those with health apps in the United States: non-Hispanic young people with higher income, higher education, a smartphone, and a Wi-Fi connection who want to change (but not maintain) their weight and amount of exercise.