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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(1)

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

Tanja Schroeder https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1733-6542 A C * , Karla Seaman https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4611-9616 A , Amy Nguyen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4603-564X A , Joyce Siette https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-5847 B , Heiko Gewald https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2107-2217 C and Andrew Georgiou https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7619-3668 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

B MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Science, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, Australia.

C In­sti­tute for Di­gital In­nov­a­tion (IDI), Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Neu-Ulm, Germany.

* Correspondence to: tanja.schroeder@mq.edu.au

Australian Health Review 48(1) 28-33 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH23119
Submitted: 13 June 2023  Accepted: 10 January 2024  Published: 25 January 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: aged care, chronic disease management, eHealth, health behaviour, mHealth applications, patient-centred care, technology adoption research.

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