News Feature | April 24, 2014

1 In 3 Patients Would Use Doctor Recommended Apps

Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Doctor Recommended Apps

Study shows apps are more likely to be used by patients when doctor recommended

A Mobiquity and Research Now study has found doctors may want to take note when it comes to apps - patients are using them but often not sharing that information with their physicians. While one in three patients say they would use an app if their doctor recommended it, 70 percent are already using apps without their doctor knowing.

“Our study shows there’s a huge opportunity for medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and health organizations to use mobile to drive positive behavior change and, as a result, better patient outcomes,” said Scott Snyder, president and chief strategy officer at Mobiquity in a press release. “The gap will be closed by those who design mobile health solutions that are indispensable and laser-focused on users’ goals, and that carefully balance data collection with user control and privacy.”

The study also found:

  • 34 percent of mobile health and fitness app users say they would use their apps more often if their doctor recommended it.
  • 61 percent say privacy concerns are hindering their adoption of mobile apps. Other concerns include time investment (24 percent), uncertainty on how to start (9 percent) and not wanting to know about health issues (6 percent).
  • 73 percent said they are healthier because they use a smartphone and apps to track health and fitness.
  • 53 percent discovered, through an app, that they were eating more calories than they realized.
  • 63 percent intend to continue or increase their mobile health tracking over the next five years.
  • 55 percent plan to try wearable devices like pedometers, wristbands or smartwatches.

Mobiquity says of the study, “The results were eye-opening, and demonstrate that while people are excited about these tools – often using them daily – they are not making the connection to their healthcare. As healthcare costs continue to rise, there is no better time than now to design mobile health solutions that are indispensable and laser-focused on users’ goals, and that carefully balance data collection with user control and privacy. Our infographic presents this huge opportunity for medical and mobile professionals alike.”