Health apps in primary care: A waiting room survey in Rhineland–Palatinate

Abstract

Background: Health apps are highly relevant against the backdrop of the expansion of digital transformation in healthcare. There are many studies that examine the benefits of certain health apps or their dissemination in the general population. However, little is known about actual use and distribution of health apps among patients in primary care. Methods: Between July 2021 and February 2022, a waiting room survey of patients in family medicine practices in Rhineland–Palatinate (Germany) was conducted. A total of 1024 patients were interviewed with the help of a written questionnaire in 25 practices. Due to the explorative approach, mainly a descriptive and bivariate data analysis was performed. Results: Around 46% of patients use health apps, 29% can imagine using them in the future, and 25% refuse to use them. The users are mainly younger, healthy, and formally more educated patients. The use is mainly for fitness and lifestyle reasons and less for medical reasons or prevention. The majority (86%) use health apps without consulting their primary care physician. There are concerns about data privacy and the sharing of sensitive data. Nevertheless, 76% of patients would use apps on prescription. Conclusions: Health apps already reach many, but by no means all patients in primary care. In order to fully exploit the potential and reach more patients, several prerequisites are necessary. The use of health apps in general, as well as the results from the apps used, should be coordinated more closely with physicians. Education about the usefulness and recommendation of medical and low-threshold health apps can facilitate access to prevention for patient groups that otherwise do not (yet) benefit from digital health applications.