Internet-based nationwide evaluation of patient preferences for mobile health features in ankylosing spondylitis

Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) generally occurs in young adults. The functional impairments resulting in limitation in activities and social participation might exert lifetime impacts. The present study investigated the preferences for mobile health (mHealth) features motivating the self-management behaviors in AS. Methods The present study was an internet-based, nationwide quantitative study based on the Chinese Ankylosing Spondylitis Prospective Imaging Cohort (CASPIC) study, which was a nationwide, ongoing, prospective cohort study launched in conjunction with Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System (SpAMS) in China. Participants with AS from the CASPIC were invited to report their mHealth preferences from December 2019 to February 2020. The questionnaire was designed to determine the patient preferences for 28 mHealth features. Sociodemographic characteristics, including age, gender, and work status, were collected. Results Among all the visitors to the online questionnaire ( n = 872), 93.9% (819/872) respondents fully completed the questionnaire and were enrolled in the present study. The mean age was (33.4 +/- 9.0) years, and 70.57% (578/819) of the respondents were males. The mean scores of 22 (78.57%) features were greater than 4 (like or strongly like). The mean standard deviation (SD) score of exercise instructions was 4.70 (0.63), which was the most preferred feature, whereas the social interaction features were preferred the least. Pain analysis was more preferred among female respondents (4.72 vs. 4.60, P = 0.012), whereas all items of the social interaction theme and social interaction as a whole (3.73 vs. 3.52, P < 0.001) were less preferred among female respondents. Additionally, the following themes were more preferred by respondents aged <= 40 years: credibility and styling (4.37 vs. 4.19, P < 0.001); disease action support (4.55 vs. 4.47, P = 0.007); and incentivization (4.35 vs . 4.24, P = 0.025). Conclusion AS patients show great interest for the majority of mHealth features. Exercise instructions and exercise scheduling are the most preferred features, whereas social interaction is the least preferred feature. In addition, gender-related and age-related differences exist in mHealth feature preferences.