Willingness of diabetes mellitus patients to use mHealth applications and its associated factors for self-care management in a low-income country: an input for digital health implementation

BACKGROUND

Although mHealth applications are becoming more widely available and used, there is no evidence about why people are willing to use them. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the willingness of patients with diabetes to use mHealth applications and associated factors for self-care management in Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 patients with diabetes. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Epi Data V.4.6 for entering the data and STATA V.14 for analysing the data were used. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with patient's willingness to use mobile health applications.

RESULTS

A total of 398 study participants were included in the study. About 284 (71.4%) 95% CI (66.8% to 75.9%)). Of participants were willing to use mobile health applications. Patients below 30 years of age (adjusted OR, AOR 2.21; 95% CI (1.22 to 4.10)), urban residents (AOR 2.12; 95% CI (1.12 to 3.98)), internet access (AOR 3.91; 95% CI (1.31 to 11.5)), favourable attitude (AOR 5.20; 95% CI (2.60 to 10.40)), perceived ease of use (AOR 2.57; 95% CI (1.34 to 4.85)) and perceived usefulness (AOR 4.67; 95% CI (1.95 to 5.77)) were significantly associated with patients' willingness to use mobile health applications.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, diabetes patients' willingness to use mobile health applications was high. Patients' age, place of residence, internet access, attitude, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were significant factors concerning their willingness to use mobile health applications. Considering these factors could provide insight for developing and adopting diabetes management applications on mobile devices in Ethiopia.

Predicting healthcare professionals' acceptance towards electronic personal health record systems in a resource-limited setting: using modified technology acceptance model

OBJECTIVES

Personal health record systems allow users to manage their health information in a confidential manner. However, there is little evidence about healthcare providers' intentions to use such technologies in resource-limited settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess predicting healthcare providers' acceptance of electronic personal health record systems.

METHODS

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 19 July to 23 August 2022 at teaching hospitals in the Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. A total of 638 health professionals participated in the study. Simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Structural equation modelling analysis was employed using AMOS V.26 software.

RESULT

Perceived ease of use had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0. 377, p<0.01), perceived usefulness (β=0.104, p<0.05) and attitude (β=0.204, p<0.01); perceived ease of use and information technology experience had a significant effect on perceived usefulness (β=0.077, p<0.05); and digital literacy (β=0.087, p<0.05) and attitude had also a strong effect on intention to use electronic personal health records (β=0.361, p<0.01). The relationship between perceived ease of use and the intention to use was mediated by attitude (β=0.076, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Perceived ease of use, attitude and digital literacy had a significant effect on the intention to use electronic personal health records. The perceived ease of use had a greater influence on the intention to use electronic personal health record systems. Thus, capacity building and technical support could enhance health providers' acceptance of using electronic personal health records in Ethiopia.