E-health. Patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers among people living with HIV and their physicians. Part 2: Health apps and smart devices

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers to health/wellness applications (apps) and smart devices among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their physicians.

Methods

Online multicenter observational survey (October 15–19, 2018).

Results

Study participation was accepted by 229 physicians and 838/1377 PLHIV followed in 46 centers, of which 325 (39%) responded online. Overall, 83/288 (29%) PLHIV had already downloaded at least one app: these ‘downloaders’ were younger (OR 0.96 ± 0.01, P = 0.004), educated to at least university entry level (OR 2.27 ± 0.86, P = 0.03), and more frequently used geolocation-based dating websites (OR 3.00 ± 1.09, P = 0.002). However, 227/314 (72%) PLHIV claimed they were ready to use an app recommended by a physician. For the 60/83 PLHIV who answered, the ideal app would be a vaccination tracker (76%) to better communicate with their physician (68%). However, 96/277 (42%) physicians were unable to answer this question and for 94/227 (41%) of them, the ideal patient app would be for schedule management. Although PLHIV used smart devices, 231/306 (75%) would want to report the data to their physicians and 137/225 (61%) of physicians would welcome this exchange. The main physician-side barrier to this exchange was concerns over data security.

Conclusion

mHealth apps and smart devices have failed to garner adoption by PLHIV. There is a case for good-quality health data sharing and exchange if PLHIV are provided with appropriately secure tools and physicians are backed up by adapted legislation.