Mobile Health App Needs Among Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers in China: A Qualitative Study From the Perceptions of Patients, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.

Background:Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to facilitate convenient health care delivery and self-management of health. However, many users have concerns about their privacy when they use mHealth apps. Different apps provide different solutions for protecting users' privacy.Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine user preferences among the several privacy protection methods used in current mHealth apps and the reasons behind their preferences.Methods:Five privacy protection methods currently used in mHealth apps were presented to a group of study participants who had mild or moderate depression and expressed concerns about privacy of information when they used mental health apps. After a demonstration of the methods, study participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire and indicate their perceived privacy protection level (PPPL) of each method, their preference rating for each method, and the privacy protection methods they had used in the past. A brief interview was then conducted to collect study participants' comments on these methods and elicit the reasons for their preference ratings. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the statistical significance of differences in participants' preference ratings and in the PPPLs obtained for the five methods. Study participants' comments on the privacy protection methods and suggestions were noted and summarized.Results:Forty (40) study participants were selected from a large candidate pool using the IRB approved selection criteria. All study participants viewed the app demonstration and understood the five privacy protection methods properly, which was indicated by their correct sorting of the PPPL of the five methods in their answers to the questionnaire. All study participants specified their preferences with respect to these methods and provided the rationale behind their selections on the questionnaire and during the brief interview. The results indicate that the users preferred privacy protection methods with customizable modules in multi-purpose apps because of their convenience and strong privacy protection, where the customization can be done either in the app or via a Web portal.Conclusions:This study identified user preferred privacy protection methods. These identified privacy protection methods may be used in many types of apps that perform sensitive health information management to better protect users' privacy and encourage more users to adopt these mHealth apps.

BACKGROUND There is data paucity regarding users’ awareness of privacy concerns and the resulting impact on the acceptance of mobile health (mHealth) apps, especially in the Saudi context. Such information is pertinent in addressing users’ needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). OBJECTIVE This article presents a study protocol for a mixed method study to assess the perspectives of patients and stakeholders regarding the privacy, security, and confidentiality of data collected via mHealth apps in the KSA and the factors affecting the adoption of mHealth apps. METHODS A mixed method study design will be used. In the quantitative phase, patients and end users of mHealth apps will be randomly recruited from various provinces in Saudi Arabia with a high population of mHealth users. The research instrument will be developed based on the emerging themes and findings from the interview conducted among stakeholders, app developers, health care professionals, and users of mHealth apps (n=25). The survey will focus on (1) how to improve patients’ awareness of data security, privacy, and confidentiality; (2) feedback on the current mHealth apps in terms of data security, privacy, and confidentiality; and (3) the features that might improve data security, privacy, and confidentiality of mHealth apps. Meanwhile, specific sections of the questionnaire will focus on patients’ awareness, privacy concerns, confidentiality concerns, security concerns, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling will be performed using SPSS and partial least squares structural equation modeling. RESULTS The ethical approval for this research has been obtained from the Biomedical and Scientific Research Ethics Committee, University of Warwick, and the Medical Research and Ethics Committee Ministry of Health in the KSA. The qualitative phase is ongoing and 15 participants have been interviewed. The interviews for the remaining 10 participants will be completed by November 25, 2023. Preliminary thematic analysis is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the quantitative phase will commence by December 10, 2023, with 150 participants providing signed and informed consent to participate in the study. CONCLUSIONS The mixed methods study will elucidate the antecedents of patients’ awareness and concerns regarding the privacy, security, and confidentiality of data collected via mHealth apps in the KSA. Furthermore, pertinent findings on the perspectives of stakeholders and health care professionals toward the aforementioned issues will be gleaned. The results will assist policy makers in developing strategies to improve Saudi users’/patients’ adoption of mHealth apps and addressing the concerns raised to benefit significantly from these advanced health care modalities. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/54933

BackgroundThere is data paucity regarding users’ awareness of privacy concerns and the resulting impact on the acceptance of mobile health (mHealth) apps, especially in the Saudi context. Such information is pertinent in addressing users’ needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).ObjectiveThis article presents a study protocol for a mixed method study to assess the perspectives of patients and stakeholders regarding the privacy, security, and confidentiality of data collected via mHealth apps in the KSA and the factors affecting the adoption of mHealth apps.MethodsA mixed method study design will be used. In the quantitative phase, patients and end users of mHealth apps will be randomly recruited from various provinces in Saudi Arabia with a high population of mHealth users. The research instrument will be developed based on the emerging themes and findings from the interview conducted among stakeholders, app developers, health care professionals, and users of mHealth apps (n=25). The survey will focus on (1) how to improve patients’ awareness of data security, privacy, and confidentiality; (2) feedback on the current mHealth apps in terms of data security, privacy, and confidentiality; and (3) the features that might improve data security, privacy, and confidentiality of mHealth apps. Meanwhile, specific sections of the questionnaire will focus on patients’ awareness, privacy concerns, confidentiality concerns, security concerns, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling will be performed using SPSS and partial least squares structural equation modeling.ResultsThe ethical approval for this research has been obtained from the Biomedical and Scientific Research Ethics Committee, University of Warwick, and the Medical Research and Ethics Committee Ministry of Health in the KSA. The qualitative phase is ongoing and 15 participants have been interviewed. The interviews for the remaining 10 participants will be completed by November 25, 2023. Preliminary thematic analysis is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the quantitative phase will commence by December 10, 2023, with 150 participants providing signed and informed consent to participate in the study.ConclusionsThe mixed methods study will elucidate the antecedents of patients’ awareness and concerns regarding the privacy, security, and confidentiality of data collected via mHealth apps in the KSA. Furthermore, pertinent findings on the perspectives of stakeholders and health care professionals toward the aforementioned issues will be gleaned. The results will assist policy makers in developing strategies to improve Saudi users’/patients’ adoption of mHealth apps and addressing the concerns raised to benefit significantly from these advanced health care modalities.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/54933

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are widely available, and some have proven safe and effective for management of specific chronic conditions. Despite a high degree of interest, the potential of these technologies has yet to be realized. Patient and clinician attitudes are key factors that influence the adoption of mHealth apps but remain poorly understood, particularly in the United States. This study aimed to identify both patient and clinician attitudes that can influence recommending and adopting mHealth apps. Using well-established technology adoption and implementation science frameworks, this study included a deductive content analysis using a rapid qualitative analytic method. Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients and clinicians to identify technical and material, social and personal, and policy and organizational factors that can influence the recommendation or adoption of mHealth apps. The interviews and data analysis were performed between September 2023 and August 2024. Participants included 20 clinicians (n=12, 60% general internists) with a mean time in practice of 17 (SD 11.6) years, and 28 patients with a mean age of 59 (SD 12.1) years. A total of 7 categories related to patients' and clinicians' attitudes toward mHealth apps emerged: (1) apps as tools to improve health by extending care, (2) the role of apps in enhancing the patient-clinician relationship, (3) the need for simplicity and efficiency in app design, (4) the influence of prior experience with mHealth apps, (5) comfort with technology, (6) recommendations from trusted sources, and (7) education and hands-on experience. Although similar factors were considered by patients and clinicians, their views about older adults' interest and ability to use mHealth apps differed. Understanding patient and clinician views about mHealth apps provides critical insights for developing approaches to facilitate their use. These findings suggest patients and clinicians share similar views about the benefits of mHealth apps. Nonetheless, clinicians' perceptions about older patients' interest and ability to use mHealth apps may negatively impact recommendation of mHealth apps and subsequent adoption by older adults.

Objectives: Mobile Health (mHealth) apps have emerged as transformative tools with the potential to revolutionize health-care delivery, particularly in resource-constrained settings like Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the trends of use of mHealth apps among Bangladeshi physicians and assess their attitudes toward integrating these apps into the health-care system. Material and Methods: Data were collected from 120 physicians using structured questionnaires, addressing awareness, usage patterns, barriers, and future considerations related to mHealth apps. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing mHealth app adoption and attitudes among Bangladeshi physicians. Results: The results indicated a relatively high level of engagement with mHealth apps among Bangladeshi physicians, with 63.3% reporting personal usage for health monitoring. However, variability in recommendation practices and integration into clinical workflows highlighted challenges in adoption. Barriers to adoption included lack of awareness, security concerns, and technological barriers. Despite these challenges, a significant proportion of physicians expressed willingness to consider adopting mHealth apps in the future. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the need for targeted interventions to address barriers to mHealth app adoption and promote their effective integration into Bangladesh’s health-care system. Recommendations include targeted educational initiatives, addressing infrastructure barriers, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. By leveraging mHealth technology, Bangladesh can advance toward a more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered health-care delivery model.

Since app stores launched in 2008, the number of direct-to-consumer mobile health (mHealth) apps has grown to hundreds of thousands. mHealth apps are often unregulated by international regulatory agencies and rarely evaluated for effectiveness, quality, data security, and safety. Evaluation frameworks and scales exist, but the onus of evaluating mHealth apps remains on end users. This best practice review aims to facilitate clinical implementation of mHealth by providing healthcare professionals with practical guidance for evaluating mHealth apps. We searched online for evaluation frameworks, scales, and searchable databases that met inclusion criteria: accessible online, preferably peer reviewed, available in English, and focused on mHealth. Three frameworks, two scales, and two searchable databases met the criteria and are reviewed. Frameworks, scales, and searchable databases generally assess app accessibility/usability, subject/content quality, and effectiveness. However, data privacy/security and engagement are rarely measured, and clinical effectiveness is often of limited focus. Considerations for mHealth implementation with marginalized and international groups are also discussed. We propose evidence-based guidelines and information to evaluate and integrate mHealth apps into healthcare settings and patient treatment plans. To our knowledge, these are the first guidelines proposed specific to integrating mHealth apps into clinical practice. The guidance for making quality recommendations to patients is of high utility to providers and healthcare organizations wishing to support treatment plans and behavior change through technological adjuncts. Future research should focus on the use of evaluation frameworks and scales to improve mHealth implementation and health outcomes.

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are rapidly emerging technologies in China due to strictly controlled medical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing essential services for chronic diseases. However, there have been no large-scale, systematic efforts to evaluate relevant apps. We aim to provide a landscape of mHealth apps in China by describing and comparing digital health concerns before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, including mHealth app data flow and user experience, and analyze the impact of COVID-19 on mHealth apps. We conducted a semilongitudinal survey of 1593 mHealth apps to study the app data flow and clarify usage changes and influencing factors. We selected mHealth apps in app markets, web pages from the Baidu search engine, the 2018 top 100 hospitals with internet hospitals, and online shopping sites with apps that connect to smart devices. For userexperience, we recruited residents from a community in southeastern China from October 2019 to November 2019 (before the outbreak) and from June 2020 to August 2020 (after the outbreak) comparing the attention of the population to apps. We also examined associations between app characteristics, functions, and outcomes at specific quantiles of distribution in download changes using quantile regression models. Rehabilitation medical support was the top-ranked functionality, with a median 1.44 million downloads per app prepandemic and a median 2.74 million downloads per app postpandemic. Among the top 10 functions postpandemic, 4 were related to maternal and child health: pregnancy preparation (ranked second; fold change 4.13), women's health (ranked fifth; fold change 5.16), pregnancy (ranked sixth; fold change 5.78), and parenting (ranked tenth; fold change 4.03). Quantile regression models showedthatrehabilitation (P75, P90), pregnancy preparation (P90), bodybuilding (P50, P90), and vaccination (P75) were positively associated with an increase in downloads after the outbreak. In the user experience survey, the attention given to health information (prepandemic: 249/375, 66.4%; postpandemic: 146/178, 82.0%; P=.006) steadily increased after the outbreak. mHealth apps are an effective health care approach gaining in popularity among the Chinese population following the COVID-19 outbreak. This research provides direction for subsequent mHealth app development and promotion in the postepidemic era, supporting medical model reformation in China as a reference, which may provide new avenues for designing and evaluating indirect public health interventions such as health education and health promotion.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) represent a major global burden, requiring more effective prevention strategies. Digital solutions have been proposed to improve DFU early-detection and reduce DFU burden, but user-centered solutions for low-and-middle income countries (LMIC) are lacking. The aim of this paper is to describe the process and lessons learned from the co-creation of (1) an intervention based on a mobile health (mHealth) app for early detection of pre-ulcerative lesions and prevention of DFU in people living with diabetes, and (2) the strategy to pilot test the intervention in rural and urban settings in Peru. We conducted a co-creation process between December 2024 and April 2025. Four workshops were held in Lima (urban) and four in Piura (semi-rural), involving 54 people living with diabetes, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). In workshop #1, patient journey mapping was used to identify barriers and facilitators to DFU care. Workshops #2 and #3 focused on the co-development of a mHealth app, while workshop #4 gathered participant feedback on study procedures for the upcoming pilot study. A total of 23 people with diabetes, 21 HCPs, and 10 caregivers participated in the workshops. Patient journeys revealed barriers to DFU management, including health system fragmentation, limited clinician training, and insufficient education for people with diabetes and caregivers. In workshops #2 and #3 a beta version of the mHealth app was tested by the participants who proposed recommendations on how to improve it and other features to be added. Study procedures for the coming pilot study of the developed intervention were tested with role play. Participants recommended community-based recruitment of participants for the pilot study, manuals and videos to train users, family engagement, WhatsApp reminders, a helpline, interim feedback calls, and graphical results in multiple formats. Participant engagement was sustained throughout the study, with participants contributing from barrier identification through to intervention and procedure design. This work describes the usage of a structured co-creation processes to develop a digital health tool for DFU prevention and detection. The co-creation process was conducted with the aim to develop an intervention that is contextually relevant, acceptable, and more likely to be implemented successfully in the Peruvian context. The processes described here offer a practical model for developing DFU-prevention interventions in similar resource-constrained environments. The upcoming pilot study will be essential to evaluate usability, adherence, and early signals of impact, ultimately guiding future scale-up.

BackgroundGum infection, known as gingivitis, is a global issue. Gingivitis does not cause pain; however, if left untreated, it can worsen, leading to bad breath, bleeding gums, and even tooth loss, as the problem spreads to the underlying structures anchoring the teeth in the jaws. The asymptomatic nature of gingivitis leads people to postpone dental appointments until clinical signs are obvious or pain is evident. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated social distancing, which has caused many people to postpone dental visits and neglect gingival health. iGAM is a dental mobile health (mHealth) app that remotely monitors gum health, and an observational study demonstrated the ability of iGAM to reduce gingivitis. We found that a weekly dental selfie using the iGAM app reduced the signs of gingivitis and promoted oral health in a home-based setting.ObjectiveThe aim of this mixed methods study is to assess perceptions, attitudes, willingness to pay, and willingness to use an mHealth app.MethodsThe first qualitative phase of the study included eight semistructured interviews, and the second quantitative phase included data collected from responses to 121 questionnaires.ResultsThere was a consensus among all interviewees that apps dealing with health-related issues (mHealth apps) can improve health. Three themes emerged from the interviews: the iGAM app is capable of improving health, the lack of use of medical apps, and a contradiction between the objective state of health and the self-definition of being healthy. Participants were grouped according to how they responded to the question about whether they believed that mHealth apps could improve their health. Participants who believed that mHealth apps can enhance health (mean 1.96, SD 1.01) had a higher willingness to pay for the service (depending on price) than those who did not believe in app efficacy (mean 1.31, SD 0.87; t119=−2417; P=.02). A significant positive correlation was found between the amount a participant was willing to pay and the benefits offered by the app (rs=0.185; P=.04).ConclusionsPotential mHealth users will be willing to pay for app use depending on their perception of the app’s ability to help them personally, provided they define themselves as currently unhealthy.

BackgroundThe postnatal period poses numerous challenges for new parents. Various educational programs are available to support new parents during this stressful period. However, the usefulness of educational programs must be evaluated to ascertain their credibility.ObjectiveThe aim of this descriptive, qualitative study was to explore the views of parents of newborns with regard to the content and delivery of a mobile health (mHealth) app–based postnatal educational program.MethodsA qualitative semistructured interview guide was used to collect data from 17 participants who belonged to the intervention group of a randomized controlled trial. The intervention, a 4-week-long access to a mHealth app–based educational program, was evaluated. The interviews were conducted in English and at the participants’ homes. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used to report the findings.ResultsThe interviews revealed 4 main themes: (1) positive features of the mHealth app, (2) advice from midwives, (3) experiences gained from using the mHealth app, and (4) recommendations for the future. The participants evaluated the educational program to be a good source of information that was tailored to the local context. The different modes of delivery, including audio and video, accentuated the accessibility of information. The parents evaluated that the facilitator of the featured communication platform, a midwife, provided trustworthy advice. Belongingness to a virtual community beyond the hospital endowed the parents the confidence that they were not alone and were supported by other parents and health care professionals.ConclusionsAccording to the parents, the mHealth app–based educational program was helpful in supporting a multi-ethnic sample of parents during the postnatal period. This insight indicates that the program could be implemented in a wide community of parents in the postnatal period. The helpfulness of the educational program is a testament of the potential benefits of using telemedicine among new parents postnatally. Resources can also be dedicated toward extending the duration of access to the app beyond 1 month and developing relevant content for parents across the perinatal period.

BackgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global health problem in this century and are the principal causes of death and health care spending worldwide. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can help manage and prevent NCDs if people are willing to use them as supportive tools. Still, many people are reluctant to adopt these technologies. Implementing new apps could result in earlier intervention for many health conditions, preventing more serious complications.ObjectiveThis research project aimed to test the factors that facilitate the adoption of mHealth apps by users with NCDs. We focused on determining, first, what user interface (UI) qualities and complexity levels appeal to users in evaluating mHealth apps. We also wanted to determine whether people prefer that the data collected by an mHealth app be analyzed using a physician or an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. The contribution of this work is both theoretical and practical. We examined users’ considerations when adopting mHealth apps that promote healthy lifestyles and helped them manage their NCDs. Our results can also help direct mHealth app UI designers to focus on the most appealing aspects of our findings.MethodsA total of 347 respondents volunteered to rate 3 models of mHealth apps based on 16 items that measured instrumentality, aesthetics, and symbolism. Respondents rated each model after reading 1 of 2 different scenarios. In one scenario, a physician analyzed the data, whereas, in the other, the data were analyzed by an AI algorithm. These scenarios tested the degree of trust people placed in AI algorithms versus the “human touch” of a human physician regarding analyzing data collected by an mHealth app.ResultsAs shown by the responses, the involvement of a human physician in the application had a significant effect (P<.001) on the perceived instrumentality of the simple model. The complex model with more controls was rated significantly more aesthetic when associated with a physician performing data analysis rather than an AI algorithm (P=.03).ConclusionsGenerally, when participants found a human touch in the mHealth app (connection to a human physician who they assumed would analyze their data), they judged the app more favorably. Simple models were evaluated more positively than complex ones, and aesthetics and symbolism were salient predictors of preference. These trends suggest that designers and developers of mHealth apps should keep the designs simple and pay special attention to aesthetics and symbolic value.

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) face significant challenges in accessing coordinated care due to the complexity and multimodality of their treatment and the impact on vital functions. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care while accelerating the adoption of digital health solutions. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer potential solutions for remote symptom monitoring, communication between patients and providers, and continuity of care. Nevertheless, their acceptance among patients with HNC remains limited due to age-related digital divides and concerns about accessibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with HNC and to explore their attitudes toward mHealth apps as a supplement to cancer treatment. A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey was conducted between January 2023 and May 2024 at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg in Germany. A total of 355 patients with HNC were recruited and completed the structured "Cancer and COVID-19" survey via the Corona Health app or in paper form. The 25-question survey assessed sociodemographic information, the impact of the pandemic on diagnosis/treatment/aftercare, and interest in mHealth apps. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were used for the analysis. The cohort comprised 261 (74%) men and 94 (26%) women with an average age of 67 (SD 11.5) years. Most participants (n=264, 74%) stated that the pandemic had no impact on their cancer treatment, although 20% (n=71) experienced disruptions, particularly in follow-up appointments and treatment monitoring. Only 10% (n=36) currently used health apps, but 57% (n=203) expressed a willingness to use mHealth technologies. Younger patients, patients with higher education, and participants who were more affected by the pandemic showed greater openness to digital health solutions. The most significant barriers included age, digital literacy, and perceived usefulness, while preferred app features included interaction with physicians (n=160, 45%) and data sharing with researchers (n=153, 43%). Although the COVID-19 pandemic had only a limited direct impact on HNC care at the institution at hand, it revealed significant patient interest in mHealth apps. However, significant barriers remain, particularly among older adults with lower digital literacy. Future mHealth initiatives should focus on improving digital literacy, addressing privacy concerns, demonstrating clinical benefits, and developing personalized, accessible solutions to optimize cancer care for this vulnerable population.

BackgroundPatients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic systematic inflammatory disease, require long-term treatment and management. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can deliver health services through mobile devices, facilitate long-term disease management, support patient–health care provider communication, and enable patients to engage in disease management. There are some apps targeted at patients with AS, but the feature and quality of these apps have not been systematically examined.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify existing, publicly available Chinese mHealth apps for AS management and to evaluate their features and quality.MethodsWe systematically searched potential apps for AS management on the Apple and Huawei App Stores, using 4 search terms: ankylosing spondylitis, spondyloarthritis, rheumatic disease, and arthritis. Apps were included if they were in the Chinese language, targeted at patients with AS, could be downloaded and run on Android and/or iOS operating systems, and incorporated elements of disease management and/or patient education. We excluded apps that were not for patient use, not relevant to AS, or had not been updated since 2018. Apps that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded for final analysis. We formulated a list of app quality measures from and consistent with international guidelines for mHealth apps and AS management to evaluate the features and quality of the included app. The user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) was also used to rate the apps’ quality.ResultsOf the 354 apps screened, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were included in our analysis. All apps were free, and most apps (4/5, 80%) had a privacy policy. Of the 5 apps, 1 (20%) involved medical professionals in the development process, 2 (40%) were developed by companies, and 2 (40%) were developed by medical institutions. All apps provided educational information about AS. Around half of the apps had functions like a basic information record (ie, users can input gender, age, disease history, etc) (n=3, 60%), patient–health care provider (and patient-patient) communication (n=2, 40%), symptom tracking (n=2, 40%), and information sharing (n=3, 60%). Only 1 (20%) app provided comprehensive functions that adhered to international guidelines for AS management and mHealth apps. The overall uMARS scores ranged from 2.7 to 4.2; only 1 app, with an overall uMARS score of 4.2, was considered as a high-quality app.ConclusionsMost apps lacked comprehensive functions for AS management. One high-quality app provided comprehensive functions to help patients manage their conditions. This study assessed and summarized the features and quality of the apps but did not evaluate their efficacy. Future studies should evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of these apps. International guidelines and regulations for the design, development, validation, and implementation of mHealth apps are needed in the future. Meanwhile, health care providers, patients with AS, and app developers should collaborate to develop high-quality, evidence-based apps that take into account patients’ needs and health care professionals’ perspectives.

Background: Chronic conditions negatively impact health and well-being; however, lifestyle risk reduction can slow their progression. Monitoring behaviours, tracking health statistics and receiving health education via mobile Health (mHealth) apps can empower patients with chronic conditions to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. Given nurses’ roles in managing chronic conditions, they are ideally positioned to integrate mHealth apps into patient care. However, there is currently a gap in our understanding of nurses’ experiences using this technology in their practice. Aim: This paper explores nurses’ experiences using mHealth apps to support patients with, or at risk of, chronic conditions. Design: This qualitative descriptive study was undertaken within a concurrent mixed methods project. Method: Data were collected through semi-structured video interviews with 13 nurses. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to guide reporting. Results: Three themes were identified regarding nurses’ experiences of using mHealth apps. The first theme focused on perceptions of mHealth app personal use. In the second theme of perceived benefits of mHealth app use in practice, the two subthemes were: a) health tracking and health literacy, and b) mHealth apps are the future. The final theme, perceived confidence in mHealth app recommendation, also included two subthemes, namely: a) perceived role in app recommendation and b) nurses’ education needs. Conclusion: Exploring nurses’ experience with mHealth apps is crucial for improving the uptake of this technology in usual care. Nurses recognise the potential of mHealth apps to increase health literacy and patient independence, but often lack confidence in using them in practice. Therefore, it is essential to prepare nurses to integrate mHealth apps into their routine practice. This can be achieved by developing a clear framework for mHealth app appraisal and providing the necessary education and training to utilise this framework effectively.

BackgroundThe use of mobile health (mHealth) apps in dietetic practice could support the delivery of nutrition care in medical nutrition therapy. However, apps are underutilized by dietitians in patient care.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the feasibility of an intervention consisting of education, training, and integration of apps in improving dietitians’ perceived self-efficacy with using mHealth apps.MethodsPrivate practice Accredited Practising Dietitians who were not regular users or recommenders of mHealth apps were recruited into the intervention. The intervention consisted of 2 phases: (1) a workshop that incorporated an educational lecture and skill-building activities to target self-efficacy, capability, opportunity, and motivation factors and (2) a 12-week intervention phase allowing for the integration of an app into dietetic practice via an app platform. During the 12-week intervention phase, dietitians prescribed an Australian commercial nutrition app to new (intervention) patients receiving nutrition care. Existing (control) patients were also recruited to provide a measure of patient satisfaction before the apps were introduced. New patients completed their patient satisfaction surveys at the end of the 12 weeks. Usability feedback about the app and app platform was gathered from intervention patients and dietitians.ResultsA total of 5 dietitians participated in the study. On the basis of an analysis of variance with the Tukey post hoc tests, the educational and skills training workshop component of the intervention produced immediate improvements in mean ratings for dietitians’ self-efficacy with using mHealth apps compared with baseline (P=.02), particularly with regard to familiarity with apps factor (P<.001). The self-efficacy factor integration into dietetic work systems achieved significant improvements from baseline to 12 weeks (P=.03). Patient satisfaction with dietetic services did not differ significantly between intervention (n=17) and control patients (n=13). Overall, dietitians and their patients indicated that they would continue using the app platform and app, respectively, and would recommend it to others. To improve usability, enhancing patient-dietitian communication mediums in the app platform and reducing the burden of entering in meals cooked at home should be considered.ConclusionsAdministering an educational and skills training workshop in conjunction with integrating an app platform into dietetic practice was a feasible method for improving the self-efficacy of dietitians toward using mHealth apps. Further translational research will be required to determine how the broader dietetic profession responds to this intervention.