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Appl Clin Inform 2024; 15(04): 709-716
DOI: 10.1055/a-2273-5278
Research Article

Patients with Heart Failure: Internet Use and Mobile Health Perceptions

Albert Sohn
1   Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, United States
2   Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
3   Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
,
Anne M. Turner
2   Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
4   Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
,
William Speier
3   Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
,
Gregg C. Fonarow
5   Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
,
Michael K. Ong
6   Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
7   Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
8   VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States
,
Corey W. Arnold
3   Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
9   Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
10   Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
11   Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Funding This study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute under grants R56HL135425 and R01HL141773.
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Abstract

Background Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome noted on approximately one in eight 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.

Objectives 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.

Conclusion 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.

Keywords

heart failure - mHealth - internet - patient–provider communication - self-care

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

Data collection and analysis presented in this work were carried out under research protocol #17-001312 approved by the University of California, Los Angeles, Institutional Review Board. We obtained signed informed consent from all participants in the study.


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Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 01. November 2023

Angenommen: 20. Februar 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
21. Februar 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
28. August 2024

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