Factors Influencing the Use of Online Symptom Checkers in the United Kingdom: Cross-Sectional Study.

IF 2 Q3 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES
Austen El-Osta, Eva Riboli-Sasco, Mahmoud Al Ammouri, Sami Altalib, Ana Luisa Neves, Azeem Majeed, Benedict Hayhoe
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The National Health Service (NHS) faces increasing strain. Concurrently, demand for health information, consumer empowerment, and health awareness continues to grow. These trends, coupled with the ubiquity of smartphones and internet access, are positioning online symptom checkers (OSCs) as promising tools for preliminary diagnosis and triage. While there is increasing data on the demographics, motivations, and perspectives of current and potential users of OSCs globally, no study has yet quantified or ranked the various factors associated with the use of OSCs in the United Kingdom.

Objective: This study aimed to assess key trends and user perceptions on the usability and effectiveness of OSC in the United Kingdom. We also sought to identify concerns related to the privacy, security, and accuracy of OSCs and to quantify the weight of these various factors on the use of OSCs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of UK adults was conducted using an electronic questionnaire. A convenience sample was recruited between February and March 2024 through web-based platforms and personal networks. The survey included questions on awareness, use, perceptions, and concerns regarding OSCs, as well as respondents' demographics. Responses were pseudo-anonymized and analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models to assess relationships between demographic factors; perceived usability, reliability, and risks; and OSC use.

Results: The survey collected responses from 634 participants. The majority (543/634, 85.7%) had used OSCs, primarily the NHS 111 service (498/634, 78.6%). Younger age (<46 years old), being female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.79, 95% CI 1.05-3.06), and having children (aOR 3.19, 95% CI 1.56-6.51) were associated with higher odds of using OSCs. Key motivations for using OSCs included understanding symptoms (501/634, 79.0%) and determining the need for medical care (491/634, 77.4%). Key concerns negatively impacting use related to privacy (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.97) and fear of replacing traditional, face-to-face consultations (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26-0.87). The most important factor found to affect the decision to use OSCs was the perceived ease of use (aOR 8.17, 95% CI 4.25-15.71), followed by the perceived helpfulness in decision-making (aOR 2.96, 95% CI 1.62-5.42), and respondents' trust in their diagnostic accuracy (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.32-3.79).

Conclusions: OSCs are widely used in the United Kingdom, particularly the NHS 111 service, driven primarily by ease of use and perceived helpfulness in decision support. However, privacy and security concerns, as well as fears of OSCs replacing traditional consultations, pose significant barriers. Addressing these concerns is crucial for enhancing user trust and maximizing the benefits of OSCs in supporting self-care and improving health care efficiency.

Abstract Image

影响英国在线症状检查器使用的因素:横断面研究
背景:国民健康服务(NHS)面临越来越大的压力。同时,对健康信息、消费者赋权和健康意识的需求继续增长。这些趋势,再加上智能手机和互联网接入的普及,使在线症状检查器(OSCs)成为初步诊断和分类的有前途的工具。虽然全球范围内关于osc的现有和潜在用户的人口统计、动机和观点的数据越来越多,但尚未有研究对与英国osc使用相关的各种因素进行量化或排名。目的:本研究旨在评估英国用户对OSC可用性和有效性的主要趋势和看法。我们还试图确定与OSCs的隐私、安全性和准确性相关的问题,并量化这些不同因素对OSCs使用的权重。方法:采用电子问卷对英国成年人进行横断面调查。在2024年2月至3月期间,通过网络平台和个人网络招募了方便样本。调查的问题包括对OSCs的认识、使用、看法和关注,以及受访者的人口统计数据。对回复进行伪匿名化处理,并使用单变量和多变量logistic回归模型进行分析,以评估人口统计因素之间的关系;感知的可用性、可靠性和风险;和OSC的使用。结果:调查收集了634名参与者的回复。大多数(543/634,85.7%)使用osc,主要是NHS 111服务(498/634,78.6%)。结论:osc在英国被广泛使用,特别是NHS 111服务,主要是由于易用性和在决策支持方面的帮助。然而,隐私和安全方面的担忧,以及对OSCs取代传统磋商的担忧,构成了重大障碍。解决这些问题对于增强用户信任和最大化osc在支持自我保健和提高医疗保健效率方面的好处至关重要。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
JMIR Formative Research
JMIR Formative Research Medicine-Medicine (miscellaneous)
CiteScore
2.70
自引率
9.10%
发文量
579
审稿时长
12 weeks
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