Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands
BackgroundDespite the worldwide growth in mobile health (mHealth) tools and the possible benefits for both patients and health care providers, the adoption of mHealth is low, and only a limited number of studies have examined the intention to download mHealth apps....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2023-12-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e48335 |
| _version_ | 1797376438353002496 |
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| author | Frans Folkvord Nadine Bol Giacomo Stazi Lutz Peschke Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva |
| author_facet | Frans Folkvord Nadine Bol Giacomo Stazi Lutz Peschke Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva |
| author_sort | Frans Folkvord |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundDespite the worldwide growth in mobile health (mHealth) tools and the possible benefits for both patients and health care providers, the adoption of mHealth is low, and only a limited number of studies have examined the intention to download mHealth apps.
ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated individuals’ preferences in the adoption of a health app.
MethodsWe conducted a discrete choice experimental study in 3 countries (Spain: n=800, Germany: n=800, and the Netherlands: n=416) with 4 different attributes and levels (ie, price: €1.99 vs €4.99 [a currency exchange rate of €1=US $1.09 is applicable] vs for free, data protection: data protection vs no information, recommendation: patients’ association vs doctors, and manufacturer: medical association vs pharmaceutical company). Participants were randomly assigned. For the analyses, we used the conditional logistic model separately for each country.
ResultsThe results showed that price and data protection were considered important factors that significantly increased the probability to download an mHealth app. In general, the source of the recommendation and the manufacturer affected the probability to download the mHealth app less. However, in Germany and the Netherlands, we found that if the app was manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, the probability to download the mHealth app decreased.
ConclusionsmHealth tools are highly promising to reduce health care costs and increase the effectiveness of traditional health interventions and therapies. Improving data protection, reducing costs, and creating sound business models are the major driving forces to increase the adoption of mHealth apps in the future. It is thereby essential to create trustworthy standards for mobile apps, whereby prices, legislation concerning data protection, and health professionals can have a leading role to inform the potential consumers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:38:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8279c230151415f8cbe4481169972da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:38:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8279c230151415f8cbe4481169972da2023-12-25T14:00:38ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2023-12-017e4833510.2196/48335Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the NetherlandsFrans Folkvordhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7602-3792Nadine Bolhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6895-9512Giacomo Stazihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6525-2522Lutz Peschkehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9513-3257Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanuevahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5361-7678 BackgroundDespite the worldwide growth in mobile health (mHealth) tools and the possible benefits for both patients and health care providers, the adoption of mHealth is low, and only a limited number of studies have examined the intention to download mHealth apps. ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated individuals’ preferences in the adoption of a health app. MethodsWe conducted a discrete choice experimental study in 3 countries (Spain: n=800, Germany: n=800, and the Netherlands: n=416) with 4 different attributes and levels (ie, price: €1.99 vs €4.99 [a currency exchange rate of €1=US $1.09 is applicable] vs for free, data protection: data protection vs no information, recommendation: patients’ association vs doctors, and manufacturer: medical association vs pharmaceutical company). Participants were randomly assigned. For the analyses, we used the conditional logistic model separately for each country. ResultsThe results showed that price and data protection were considered important factors that significantly increased the probability to download an mHealth app. In general, the source of the recommendation and the manufacturer affected the probability to download the mHealth app less. However, in Germany and the Netherlands, we found that if the app was manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, the probability to download the mHealth app decreased. ConclusionsmHealth tools are highly promising to reduce health care costs and increase the effectiveness of traditional health interventions and therapies. Improving data protection, reducing costs, and creating sound business models are the major driving forces to increase the adoption of mHealth apps in the future. It is thereby essential to create trustworthy standards for mobile apps, whereby prices, legislation concerning data protection, and health professionals can have a leading role to inform the potential consumers.https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e48335 |
| spellingShingle | Frans Folkvord Nadine Bol Giacomo Stazi Lutz Peschke Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands |
| title_full | Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands |
| title_short | Preferences in the Willingness to Download an mHealth App: Discrete Choice Experimental Study in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands |
| title_sort | preferences in the willingness to download an mhealth app discrete choice experimental study in spain germany and the netherlands |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e48335 |
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