96% Of Users, Providers Say Apps ‘Improve Their Quality Of Life'

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

A survey of more than a thousand individuals and 500 medical professionals found the vast majority believe mHealth apps are beneficial.

A survey of 1,000 consumers and 500 healthcare professionals found an overwhelming majority believe mHealth apps are beneficial. Research Now, which conducted the survey, notes 86 percent of healthcare professionals believe mobile health apps increase their knowledge on a patient’s medical condition.

iHealth Beat reports that, among the healthcare professionals surveyed:

• 76 percent believe the apps will help patients with chronic disease management
• 61 percent believe the apps will help those who are at a high risk of developing health issues
• 55 percent believe the apps could help healthy individuals stay healthy
• 48 percent believe the apps could help patients recently discharged from a hospital
• 46 percent believe the apps will improve their relationship with their patients

According to mHealth Intelligence, almost all of those surveyed, 96 percent – believe that mobile health apps “improve their quality of life.” Despite this, only 16 percent of healthcare professionals are using mHealth apps.

Perhaps this can be explained by a report released last year which found physicians were split on whether or not the practice of prescribing apps is a good idea. Some said they were unaware of what apps were out there, others said the apps would provide too much data which would be impossible to sift through. Other physicians said there was just not enough data on their effectiveness.

On a positive note however, 46 percent of physicians surveyed by Research Now said they plan on using such apps in the next five year.