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Appl Clin Inform
DOI: 10.1055/a-2273-5278
Research Article

Patients with Heart Failure: Internet Use and Mobile Health Perceptions

Albert Sohn
1   Medical Education and Clinical Sciences, Washington State University - Spokane, Spokane, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN53424)
,
Anne M Turner
2   Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
,
William Speier
3   Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN8783)
,
Gregg C Fonarow
4   Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
,
Michael Ong
5   Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN8783)
,
C Arnold
6   Radiology, Pathology, Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN8783)
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute R01HL141773,R56HL135425
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Background: Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome noted on approximately 1 in 8 death certificates in the United States. Vital to reducing complications of heart failure and preventing hospital readmissions is adherence to heart failure self-care routines. Mobile health offers promising opportunities for enhancing self-care behaviors by facilitating tracking and timely reminders. Objective: We sought to investigate three characteristics of heart failure patients with respect to their heart failure self-care behaviors: (1) internet use to search for heart failure information; (2) familiarity with mobile health apps and devices; and (3) perceptions of using activity trackers or smartwatches to aid in their heart failure self-care. Methods: Forty-nine heart failure patients were asked about their internet and mobile health usage. The structured interview included questions adapted from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Results: Over 50% of the patients had utilized the internet to search for heart failure information in the past 12 months, experience using health-related apps, and thoughts that an activity tracker or smartwatch could help them manage heart failure. Qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed six themes: trust in their physicians, alternatives to mobile health apps, lack of need for mobile health devices, financial barriers to activity tracker and smartwatch ownership, benefits of tracking and reminders, and uncertainty of their potential due to lack of knowledge. Conclusions: Trust in their physicians was a major factor for heart failure patients who reported not searching for health information on the internet. While those who used mobile health technologies found them useful, patients who did not use them were generally unaware of or unknowledgeable about them. Considering patients’ preferences for recommendations from their physicians and tendency to search for heart failure information including treatment and management options, patient-provider discussions about mobile health may improve patient knowledge and impact their usage.



Publication History

Received: 01 November 2023

Accepted after revision: 20 February 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
21 February 2024

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