RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Willingness to Exchange Health Information via Mobile Devices: Findings From a Population-Based Survey
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 34
OP 40
DO 10.1370/afm.1888
VO 14
IS 1
A1 Serrano, Katrina J.
A1 Yu, Mandi
A1 Riley, William T.
A1 Patel, Vaishali
A1 Hughes, Penelope
A1 Marchesini, Kathryn
A1 Atienza, Audie A.
YR 2016
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/14/1/34.abstract
AB PURPOSE The rapid proliferation of mobile devices offers unprecedented opportunities for patients and health care professionals to exchange health information electronically, but little is known about patients’ willingness to exchange various types of health information using these devices. We examined willingness to exchange different types of health information via mobile devices, and assessed whether sociodemographic characteristics and trust in clinicians were associated with willingness in a nationally representative sample.METHODS We analyzed data for 3,165 patients captured in the 2013 Health Information National Trends Survey. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to test differences in willingness. Ordinal logistic regression analysis assessed correlates of willingness to exchange 9 types of information separately.RESULTS Participants were very willing to exchange appointment reminders (odds ratio [OR] = 6.66; 95% CI, 5.68–7.81), general health tips (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.74–2.38), medication reminders (OR = 2.73; 95% CI, 2.35–3.19), laboratory/test results (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.62–1.92), vital signs (OR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.48–1.80), lifestyle behaviors (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.24–1.58), and symptoms (OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.46–1.79) as compared with diagnostic information. Older adults had lower odds of being more willing to exchange any type of information. Education, income, and trust in health care professional information correlated with willingness to exchange certain types of information.CONCLUSIONS Respondents were less willing to exchange via mobile devices information that may be considered sensitive or complex. Age, socioeconomic factors, and trust in professional information were associated with willingness to engage in mobile health information exchange. Both information type and demographic group should be considered when developing and tailoring mobile technologies for patient-clinician communication.