What would it take to improve the uptake and utilisation of mHealth applications among older Australians? A qualitative study

Objective Health-related apps on mobile devices (mHealth apps) have become an effective self-management tool and treatment support for patients. There is limited research, however, on how older people (50 and over) perceive the opportunity of using mHealth apps. Our aim was to investigate the perceptions of older people in Australia regarding the opportunity of using prescribed or doctor-recommended mHealth apps and provide insights which can enhance their uptake of mHealth.Methods This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews involving 21 participants aged 51-82 years. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to categorise the factors that influence the adoption of mHealth apps by older adults.Results We show that beyond the prominent influencing factors from technology adoption research (such as performance and effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions), health-specific factors such as a trusting doctor-patient relationship and strong health self-efficacy positively influence the intended adoption of mHealth apps among older adults. In addition, the IT security and accurate interpretation of participants' input in an mHealth app can present barriers to mHealth app adoption.Conclusion Our analyses provide additional insights complementing existing technology adoption research. Their successful adoption and utilisation require further empirical evidence on its effectiveness along with attention to the voices of those who are meant to use them. To address potential barriers, improve the quality and security of mHealth apps, and thus achieve greater patient safety, the involvement of consumers, regulators and health professionals is necessary. What is known about the topic? mHealth apps have the enormous potential to promote patient-centred care, provide a tool for patient self-management and effectively empower and improve users' health and health behaviour. What does this paper add? This paper complements existing adoption research models by identifying further influencing factors that specifically address the characteristics of mHealth apps and the needs of older adults. What are the implications for practitioners? This research shows that the requirements of consumers, regulators and health professionals need to be addressed to improve the relevance of mHealth and enable greater support for mHealth apps in the health system by understanding the perceived influencing factors for mHealth adoption.