Quality Of Information Research Articles

Pseudo-Worsening of Kidney Function Due to Inhibition of Renal Creatinine Secretion: Quality of Information Provided in Prescribing Information/SmPC.

Determination of serum creatinine concentrations and subsequent calculation of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) is a cornerstone of clinical medicine. Crucial clinical decisions such as drug treatment discontinuations are based on eGFR calculated from serum creatinine measurements. However, creatinine is not only filtered in the kidneys, but also actively secreted into urine. Creatinine transporters such as OCT2, OCT3, MATE1, MATE2-K, and OAT2 expressed in proximal tubular cells are responsible for active renal secretion of creatinine. Multiple drugs (e.g., oral antitumor drugs) inhibit these transporters thereby causing a pseudo-worsening of kidney function with an increase in serum creatinine concentrations and a decrease in eGFR while other methods for eGFR determination (e.g., by cystatin C) reveal normal kidney function. Since US Prescribing Information (PI) and European Summaries of Product Characteristics (SmPCs) are the most relevant source of information for physicians, we investigated the quality of information in US PI/German SmPCs of drugs with clear evidence for pseudo-worsening of kidney function. 514 drugs putatively interacting with creatinine transporters were identified. For 149 of those drugs, an increase in serum creatinine concentrations has been described. Available data confirmed the existence of pseudo-worsening of kidney function for 30 of those drugs, for the remaining 119 drugs existing data are insufficient. Only 23.5% (12/51) of the 30 drugs' PI/SmPCs contained unambiguous statements on this proven pseudo-worsening of kidney function and gave clear recommendations for clinical management. Taken together, inadequate information provided in PI or SmPCs on the pseudo-worsening of kidney function poses patients at unnecessary risks.

Surfing for answers: Evaluating the quality of online health information for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes

Surfing for answers: Evaluating the quality of online health information for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes

The Effect of Social Media Marketing on Brand Image from the Perspective of Information Adoption Model

The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of marketing activities on social media on brand image from the perspective of information adoption model. While this study examines the relationship between social media and brand image, it also examines the usefulness of the information produced by businesses as a result of marketing efforts on social media; It aims to explain the relationship between the quality of information, the reliability of the source and the adoption of information, and to reveal what role this plays on brand image. Data were collected by survey technique from 204 people living in Karabük Province and using social media. The collected data were analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The analyzes confirm that the quality, reliability, usefulness and adoption of information produced through social media marketing positively affects brand image. This study contributes to previous studies in this field and reveals how important a factor social media marketing is in shaping consumer behavior. It should be seen as an indispensable situation for businesses to give importance to social media marketing in terms of their future in order to influence consumer behavior.

Critical Success Factors and Acceptance of the Casemix System Implementation Within the Total Hospital Information System: Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Pilot Study.

The health care landscape is evolving rapidly due to rising costs, an aging population, and the increasing prevalence of diseases. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia implemented transformation strategies such as the Casemix system and hospital information system to enhance health care quality, resource allocation, and cost-effectiveness. However, successful implementation relies not just on the technology itself but on the acceptance and engagement of the users involved. This study aims to develop and refine items of a quantitative instrument measuring the critical success factors influencing acceptance of Casemix system implementation within the Ministry of Health's Total Hospital Information System (THIS). A cross-sectional pilot study collected data from medical doctors at a hospital equipped with the THIS in the federal territory of Putrajaya, Malaysia. This pilot study's minimum sample size was 125, achieved through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire adapted from the human, organization, and technology-fit evaluation framework and the technology acceptance model. The pilot data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the Cronbach α assessed internal reliability. Both analyses were conducted in SPSS (version 25.0; IBM Corp). This study obtained 106 valid responses, equivalent to an 84.8% (106/125) response rate. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.859, and the Bartlett test of sphericity yielded statistically significant results (P<.001). Principal component analysis identified 9 components explaining 84.07% of the total variance, surpassing the minimum requirement of 60%. In total, 9 unique slopes indicated the identification of 9 components through EFA. While no new components emerged from the other 7 constructs, only the organizational factors construct was divided into 2 components, later named organizational structure and organizational environment. In total, 98% (41/42) of the items had factor loadings of >0.6, leading to the removal of 1 item for the final instrument for the field study. EFA ultimately identified 8 main constructs influencing Casemix implementation within the THIS: system quality, information quality, service quality, organizational characteristics, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, intention to use, and acceptance. Internal reliability measured using the Cronbach α ranged from 0.914 to 0.969, demonstrating high reliability. This study provides insights into the complexities of EFA and the distinct dimensions underlying the constructs that influence Casemix system acceptance in the THIS. While the findings align with extensive technology acceptance literature, the results accentuate the necessity for further research to develop a consensus regarding the most critical factors for successful Casemix adoption. The developed instrument is a substantial step toward better understanding the multidimensional challenges of health care system transformations in Malaysia, postulating an underpinning for future fieldwork and broader application across other hospitals.

Can ChatGPT provide quality information about fever in children?

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems hold great promise in improving medical care and health problems. We aimed to evaluate the answers by asking the most frequently asked questions to ChatGPT for the prediction and treatment of fever, which is a major problem in children. The 50 questions most frequently asked about fever in children were determined, and we asked them to ChatGPT. We evaluated the responses using the quality and readability scales. While ChatGPT demonstrated good quality in its responses, the readability scale and the Patient Education Material Evaluation Tool (PEMAT) scale used with materials appearing on the site were also found to be successful. Among the scales in which we evaluated ChatGPT responses, a weak positive relationship was found between Gunning Fog (GFOG) and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) scores (r = 0.379) and a significant and positive relationship was found between FGL and SMOG scores (r = 0.899). This study sheds light on the quality and readability of information regarding the presentation of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, regarding fever, a common complaint in children. We determined that the answers to the most frequently asked questions about fire were high-quality, reliable, easy to read and understandable.

The Paradoxical Effect of Repeated Body Checking on Subjective Uncertainty.

Body checking is considered a behavioral expression of the core psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs), namely, overvaluation of body weight and shape. Compulsive checking is motivated by a desire to increase a sense of certainty regarding feared outcomes. Paradoxically, studies showed that repeated checking acts to reduce certainty, forming a vicious cycle. No previous study examined whether the same principle applies for body checking. This study filled this gap by examining the causal effect of repeated body checking on memory certainty regarding checked body parts. In a laboratory-based study, 77 female participants without an ED checked the size and shape of six body parts. Their objective memory regarding which body part was last checked, and subjective certainty about this memory were assessed. Then, one group of participants continued to engage in repeated body checking, and another group repeatedly checked a neutral object. Finally, all participants completed the six body parts checking procedure again, and their objective memory and memory certainty were re-assessed. In both checking groups, objective memory regarding the last body part checked was unaffected by the type of checking performed. Importantly, certainty about memory dropped considerably only among those in the repeated body-checking group. The findings provide the first empirical evidence of a paradoxical effect demonstrating that repeated body checking reduces certainty about checked body parts. The study implies that repeated body checking reduces the quality of information obtained through checking and, as such, could potentially motivate further checking.

Trustworthiness of EHRs: Key Factors from a User-Centered Study in Germany

Abstract Background The integration of digital technologies, particularly Electronic Health Records (EHRs), promises substantial improvements in patient care and cost reductions. However, the success of EHRs depends heavily on patient trust and usage, which are influenced by their control over data visibility, storage, and sharing. Identifying the factors that enhance the perceived trustworthiness of EHRs is essential for increasing their reliability and acceptance in healthcare settings. Methods Participants (N = 30) first interacted with an interactive EHR prototype, then evaluated its trustworthiness and suggested improvements during semi-structured interviews. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes affecting perceptions of the EHR’s trustworthiness. Results Through thematic analysis, we developed a categorical system encompassing five principal themes: provider reputation, information quality, system characteristics, user control, and user feedback. The analysis revealed that deficiencies in design and usability indirectly affect perceptions of privacy and data security. Conclusions Our study underscores the critical role of contextual factors-including provider reputation, strategic IT partnerships, and user feedback-in cultivating trust in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. Addressing privacy concerns and bolstering user trust necessitates not only a professional approach to design and usability but also clear communication about adherence to rigorous data privacy and security standards. In Germany’s tightly regulated environment, clearly communicating EHR security standards is crucial. Enhancing trust also involves robust customer support, user control over their data, and leveraging social proof like high download rates or positive reviews. These approaches could significantly improve EHR acceptance and trust in digital health across the country. Key messages • The perceived trustworthiness of EHRs is essential for increasing their reliability and acceptance in healthcare settings. • Effective communication and design are critical for building trust in digital health technologies. Trust in EHRs grows with transparent data policies and empowering user controls.

The Advance and Spot Selling Strategy Under Quality Information Asymmetry

ABSTRACTWe study firms' optimal pricing and quality selection in the advance period and the spot period under the information asymmetry. Our study theoretically demonstrates that the advance price as a signal of quality information can affect the separating and pooling equilibrium. Importantly, we find that separating equilibrium is more favorable for high cost‐efficiency if consumers have low prior probability that the firm is high cost‐efficiency. For the firm with low cost‐efficiency, the benefit of the separating equilibrium is the same as information is common sense. But no matter which equilibrium firms choose, they will target all consumers during the spot period.

Tiktok as a Source of Education and Misinformation in Lichen Sclerosus.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the content, delivery, and quality of medical information for vulvar lichen sclerosus on the social media platform TikTok. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Using the third-party data scraping tool Apify, TikTok videos tagged with #lichensclerosus or "lichen sclerosus" were identified and sorted by view count. A sample of 100 videos was reviewed by 2 independent reviewers, excluding those not discussing lichen sclerosus. Videos were assessed using a coding document, the Patient Educational Materials Assessment Tool, and the DISCERN instrument. Interrater reliability was measured, and statistical analyses included Fleiss' kappa, intraclass correlation coefficient, t tests, and Wilcoxon rank sum test with Holm-Bonferroni correction. Content creators included patients (46%), health care professionals (30%), and others. Topics focused on clinical disease (52%) and treatment (48%). Evidence-based medicine was discussed in 71.7% of treatment-related videos, while 51.7% included nonevidence-based approaches, with a neutral or positive sentiment. Videos discussing topical steroids often had negative sentiments. Quality assessment revealed 61% of videos were understandable, 27% actionable, and 46% contained misinformation. Videos by health care professionals had less misinformation and higher quality scores compared to patient-generated content. Commercially biased videos were more understandable but contained more misinformation. TikTok serves as a significant platform for sharing information on lichen sclerosus, but nearly half of the content contains misinformation. Health care professionals need to engage in social media to provide accurate information and counteract misinformation. Enhanced collaboration with patient advocates and careful resource sharing can improve the quality and reliability of medical information available online.

Potential reformulation of food products two years after implementation of Nutri-Score in Belgium

Abstract Background Nutri-score is a front of pack labeling system that provides consumers with simplified information of the nutritional quality of food products. It is based on a five color (green to red) or letter (A to E) scheme that grades the quality of the product using an algorithm that takes into account the energy, sugar, saturated fats, salt, fiber, protein content, and percent of fruits and vegetables. In Belgium, Nutri-score was implemented on a voluntary basis in April 2019. This study aims to explore reformulation of products with Nutri-score by comparing their nutrient content and Nutri-score distribution in 2019 and 2021. Methods Product data from one of the major retailers was used in the analysis. Similar products in 2019 and 2021 with matched barcodes were used. Descriptive statistics were computed and statistical analyses such as the signed rank test and the McNemars test were performed to respectively evaluate the changes in the nutrient content and Nutri-score. The tests were conducted at 5% level of significance. Results From the matched sample of 668 products, about 55% had a Nutri-score of A and B in both 2019 and 2021. The proportion of food products with Nutri-Score of A/B and of D/E was not significantly different after two years of Nutri-Score implementation. Results showed a significant decrease in the median energy content of dairy, sauces, and meat products and in the median sugar content of dairy and fruit and vegetable products. There was a significant increase in the median fiber content of the dairy, meat products, and non-alcoholic beverages. For all food groups, the salt content of the products in 2019 and 2021 was not significantly different. Conclusions This two-year interval analysis described the changes in the classification and reformulation of the products with Nutri-score. Favorable changes in the nutrient quality of the product profiles reveals improvement in their reformulation. Key messages • In this analysis, changes has been observed in the nutrient content of food products between 2019 and 2021. • Producers or manufacturers should continue working on commitments to enhance the nutritional quality of the products delivered to consumers.

Assessing Quality of Referrals to a Community-Based Chronic Pain Clinic

ABSTRACT Introduction Because patients with chronic pain are complex, with significant medical and psychiatric comorbidities, referrals to specialty pain clinics are often necessary. The present study explores the quality of information submitted and the profile of referring physicians associated with rejected patient referrals by a community pain clinic. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on a series of consecutive new patient referrals rejected by a noninterventional community pain clinic (November 2021–June 2022). Data were collected on the reasons for rejected referrals and physicians responsible for these referrals using the public database of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Results During the study period, 120 new referrals made by 99 physicians (88% primary care providers, or PCPs; male : female ratio 1:1.2; 53% Canadian university graduates) were rejected because of inadequate information (62%) or because they were inappropriate (38%). Only 46% of the rejected referrals were resubmitted within a median of 7 days (range 0–96 days) and accepted. Half of the non-resubmitted referrals could have been accepted if the referring provider had sent in the missing information. Conclusion A significant number of referrals to our pain clinic (primarily from PCPs) are rejected for mainly avoidable reasons. The process of rejected referrals and resubmissions requires 92 to 126 h of additional staff time/year. Without additional health care resources, our study highlights simple but effective improvements in the referral process that could facilitate patient care, avoid unnecessary delays, and decrease possible sources of patient complaints.

The empowering role of health literacy in combatting fake news, misinformation and infodemics

Abstract Background In times of the rapid digital transformation, people need to acquire specific knowledge, skills and attitudes to deal with data, digital information and technology. Such skills are particularly important in times of crisis, as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown. Alongside the pandemic, a so called “infodemic” has emerged, i.e., an overabundance of information, accompanied by misinformation, which impedes sound decision-making processes, affects health literacy (HL) and impacts public health. However, while misinformation poses a well-known threat to our health and well-being, we still lack viable concepts and approaches to satisfactorily solving this issue. Thus, we aimed at reviewing the concept of HL in view of the infodemic and health-related challenges. Methods In a 12-month participatory process in Switzerland in 2023, we investigated the empowering role of HL in light of the polycrisis. On behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, we conducted a literature review on existing HL definitions. Then, we conducted 6 expert interviews and 2 focus group interviews with other 10 experts in HL and associated domains, which guided and informed the review process. Results As a result, HL can be understood as a bundle of competencies to proactively deal with health-related information, services, and challenges and thereby empowers people to manage their and other’s health and well-being. Thus, HL empowers people to better manage digital information and services and promotes critical thinking. This in turn is necessary to assess information quality, uncover misinformation and to adequately manage health data and information. Conclusions HL represents a crucial prerequisite for individuals, professionals, and decision-makers to find trustworthy health information, to reflect upon the quality and credibility of sources and content, and to understand the complex interrelations of the determinants of health and is therefore crucial for public health. Key messages • Health literacy empowers people to adequately deal with fake news, misinformation and infodemics. • Strengthening health literacy offers great potential for public health to promote critical thinking and to rebuild trust.

Experiences from the European Region: case studies and scenarios to inform ways forward in digital health

Abstract Member States in the WHO European Region face similar challenges when it comes to strengthening their HIS and implementing digital health solutions. From WHO/Europe’s work with its Member States, several important preconditions have become apparent for successful and sustainable digital transformation. Firstly, the importance of recognising that implementing digital tools is not a one-off investment, but that this takes a long-term vision including long-term budgeting. Having business continuity plans also is a key element of sustainable implementation of digital tools, that is often not adequately addressed in practice. Secondly, the importance of comprehensive strategic planning. Implementing digital tools is not only about software and hardware, but also about people and processes. Here it is also crucial for policymakers to understand that, to be able to harvest the benefits of data that are gathered by means of digital tools, resources for data processing and analysis also need to be made available. Last but not least, an important precondition for successful digital transformation is stakeholder involvement. Often, new software is developed without adequately involving the end-user, resulting in for example apps that do not meet patients’ needs. Or in electronic health record systems that are not user-friendly for the healthcare staff that need to enter the data, with incomplete and low quality information as a consequence. Stakeholder involvement is essential in strategic planning for digital health as well. Think for example about standardization and accreditation agencies, and institutes that will be secondary users of data for statistics and research. In this presentation, several case studies from across the European Region will be presented, illustrating how digital transformation in health can be successfully and sustainably implemented.

Data quality assessment of aggregated LCI datasets: A case study on fossil‐based and bio‐based plastic food packaging

AbstractEnvironmental impacts resulting from plastic food packaging, made from both fossil‐based and bio‐based polymers, are increasingly analyzed in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. However, the literature reveals significant variations in results for the same polymer within the same scope. To enhance the reliability of these assessments, data quality assessment (DQA) plays a relevant role. However, despite most of the LCA studies employing aggregated life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets, in the literature, DQA methods for aggregated processes are not available. To fill this gap, in this paper, a DQA for aggregated LCI datasets is proposed and demonstrated through its application to 101 aggregated LCI datasets, extracted from Ecoinvent and GaBi databases. The DQA method has been developed by adapting and integrating the pedigree matrix and the data quality ranking proposed by the recently published EC Plastic LCA method. The three data quality indicators (DQIs) used are technological, geographical, and time‐related representativeness. The application of this method exhibits an overall positive evaluation of the selected datasets with differences among the three DQIs. Moreover, it highlights the role of metadata structure in adequately supporting a robust DQA. Indeed, in the absence of a common framework that defines, assesses, and provides access to data quality information, transparency must be assured by the operator in the metadata interpretation and related assumptions along the DQA process. Finally, although the proposed DQA method was developed for the plastic sector, its application can be extended to LCI aggregated datasets relevant to other sectors, materials, and products.

Development of an air quality communication strategy with underserved groups

Abstract Air quality is the greatest environmental health threat. Effective communication can support individuals to take actions to protect themselves, however, we know some groups are less likely to engage with exposure reducing behaviours than others. We aimed to explore what information individuals want to receive about raised air pollution levels, when, where and how they would like to receive it. In this qualitative study individuals participated in either semi-structured interviews (n = 6) or focus groups (n = 8) in North East England between Oct23-Feb24. We used purposive sampling underpinned by extensive community-based engagement to ensure inclusion of those who were underserved and/ or at risk of digital exclusion. The Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour model was used to help guide discussions and the data thematically analysed using an inductive approach. Fifty individuals participated, many of whom were of non-white ethnicity (n = 23, 46%), spoke English as an additional language (n = 12, 24%), and had lower educational attainment levels (i.e., no-qualifications n = 7, 14%). Participants discussed four aspects that they deemed important to include in air quality communication: (1) the risk and harms of air pollution should be stated, and be tailored because “what’s a dangerous level for one person isn’t a dangerous level for another”(P41) (2) Participants felt detail about the pollutants should be included such as: “what is causing the air pollution?”(P15) to “avoid the exposure to this source”(P21). (3) Messages should also include actionable recommendations about how to protect oneself and, (4) various ways to communicate these messages (text-message-based approaches being the most popular) were suggested. Our findings indicated using a combined communication strategy including text messages and community-based approaches. This work can inform the development of inclusive future air quality information communication Key messages • Effective communication can support individuals to take actions to protect themselves from air pollution. • A combined communication strategy including text messages and community-based approaches were suggested as being effective communication strategies.

What Makes Customers Choose Certain Courier Services Over the Others?

The COVID-19 pandemic has proliferated courier service companies due to increasing customer demand. Customers prefer some courier service companies over others because of certain factors, including timeliness, order discrepancy, personal contact quality, order condition, and operational information sharing. The study investigates the factors contributing to customer satisfaction when choosing courier services. A survey questionnaire was distributed to customers to gauge their overall level of satisfaction and assessment of potential contributing factors. Respondents were selected from those who have experience using the courier service. From the results of multiple regression analysis, four factors, timeliness, personal contact quality, order condition, and operational information sharing, significantly influence customer satisfaction when choosing courier service. Order discrepancy does not significantly influence customer satisfaction because customers trust the courier service providers to provide the service as expected. The implications of the study are discussed in the paper.

Exploring E-Customer Satisfaction Using e-SERVQUAL Among Online Shoppers

When interacting with a company's products and services, customer satisfaction is an overall feeling of contentment that a client is experiencing. Previous studies have shown an increase in revenue when a company prioritizes customer satisfaction with its products or services. Around 70 percent of Malaysians are dynamic online consumers, with most of them shopping via websites. e-SERVQUAL assesses the efficacy and efficiency of a website in facilitating shopping, purchase, and delivery processes. It encompasses the pre-purchase and post-purchase phases. The e-SERVQUAL dimensions (privacy, website design, responsiveness, reliability, usability, and information quality) are elements that impact e-customer satisfaction. A total of 100 respondents at Bandar Utama City Centre who shop online participated in the survey. According to the data, males outnumber females among the respondents. The survey comprised three sections: A, B, and C. Section A comprised the demographic information of the respondents, Section B concentrated on the e-SERVQUAL aspects, and Section C addressed e-customer satisfaction. The data was examined utilizing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that the majority of respondents expressed satisfaction with the quality. However, website design improvements should be made to encourage more online shopping. The recommendation in this study is beneficial to online service providers and future studies on e-SERVQUAL should be extended to another dimension to explore more aspects of determining quality service in an online setting.

Analysis of the Informational Content of Turkish Videos on YouTube About Tooth Brushing.

To examine the content of Turkish videos on YouTube about tooth brushing and to evaluate their usefulness in providing information to the public. Two keywords were determined using the website Google Trends. For each keyword, the top 100 most watched videos were determined according to the searches made on YouTube and a total of 200 videos were examined. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 99 videos were included in the study. The URL address of each video included, the number of views, the number of likes, the number of dislikes, the duration of the video, the time elapsed since the upload date (days) and whether the videos was narrated by a dentist, commercial institution or individual user was recorded. In addition, the interaction index and viewing rates of the videos were calculated. The contents of the videos included were evaluated by a specialist dentist. Based on the evaluation of the information content of the videos, 54.5% of them contained minimal information, 38.4% poor information, 5.1% good information and 2% excellent information. The two videos containing excellent information include 10 of the 12 topics evaluated and both videos are narrated by a dentist. Turkish videos about tooth brushing on YouTube are insufficient in terms of content and accurate information. For this reason, individuals should be directed to professional sources in order to receive accurate and up-to-date information, and dentists should share videos containing sufficient content and quality information on this platform.

Modeling the critical success factors for continuous usage intention of foodservice mobile apps

ABSTRACT Foodservice apps are gaining popularity and have garnered significant scholarly and industry interest, yet there is a limited understanding of the critical factors driving their continuous usage. Insights about critical success factors can help organizations anticipate this industry’s future. To address this gap, the study has developed a hierarchical model to evaluate the relationships among critical success factors affecting the continuous usage intention of foodservice apps. A five-level hierarchical structure is established using modified Total Interpretive Structural Modeling and Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement analysis. The analysis identifies and categorizes eight critical success factors through an extensive literature review verified by consulting experts. The findings have shown varying levels of influence and dependence among the critical success factors. Information quality, food quality, app design, and perceived healthiness were the most significant factors driving the intention for continuous usage. The study’s practical implications are significant for foodservice managers and app developers, suggesting that prioritizing factors like information quality, app design, and perceived healthiness can enhance user engagement and long-term app usage.

Quality factors affecting the continued use of mobile health apps in ethnic minority regions of Southwest China using PLS-SEM and ANN

Mobile technology has significantly accelerated the rapid development of healthcare services. Despite the convenience brought by the proliferation of mobile health (mHealth) apps, the challenge of promoting their continued use among patients has garnered attention from many scholars and administrators. Based on the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), this study explores the impact of quality elements on the continuance intention of mHealth apps in Southwest China’s ethnic minority regions. Researchers conducted a structured questionnaire survey on 337 users of mHealth apps in these regions to measure their self-reported responses to seven constructs: information quality, system quality, service quality, perceived usefulness, confirmation, satisfaction, and continuance intention. The study uses the structural equation model-artificial neural network (SEM-ANN) approach to interpret the compensatory and non-linear relationships between predictors and continuance intention. The findings reveal that user satisfaction and perceived usefulness significantly predict the continuance intention to use mHealth apps. All other relationships were confirmed except for the non-significant relationships between service quality and confirmation, service quality and perceived usefulness, and system quality and perceived usefulness. Furthermore, based on the normalized importance obtained from the multilayer perceptron, the most critical predictors identified were satisfaction (100%), followed by information quality (70.2%), perceived usefulness (43.2%), system quality (25.1%), and confirmation (17.6%). Finally, this study presents theoretical and practical implications for the continuance intention towards mHealth apps in Southwest China’s ethnic minority regions.