Gesundheitswesen 2022; 84(08/09): 750
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1753679
Abstracts | DGSMP/DGMS
Vorträge
Thema: Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung

Factors associated with the interest in smartphone apps for health promotion and disease prevention: Results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey in Germany

KK De Santis
1   Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Bremen, Deutschland
2   Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
,
H Zeeb
1   Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Bremen, Deutschland
2   Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
3   University of Bremen, Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, Bremen, Deutschland
,
K Matthias
4   University of Applied Science Stralsund, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stralsund, Deutschland
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Einleitung Smartphone apps can be used for health promotion and disease prevention purposes. The use of digital technologies in the health context depends on sociodemographic factors (younger age, more education, higher income) and higher eHealth literacy. It is unclear if the interest in smartphone apps for health promotion and disease prevention also depends on these factors. This study investigated if the interest in smartphone apps for health promotion and disease prevention is associated with the sociodemographic factors and the eHealth literacy using data from a nationwide survey in Germany.

Methoden Our cross-sectional, nationwide survey was conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviews in October 2020. Internet users residing in Germany answered a 28-item survey regarding digitization of health and perceived eHealth literacy according to the eHEALS Scale (from 8=lowest to 40=highest eHealth literacy score). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to test the association between the interest in smartphone apps for health promotion and disease prevention (from 1=very low to 5=very high), the sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education, income) in model 1 and the perceived eHealth literacy in model 2.

Ergebnisse Complete data were collected from 752 adults aged 18-93 (M±SD: 54±15) with high perceived eHealth literacy (31±6 points). The participants were 51% female, 64% with up to tertiary education and 54% with up to the average monthly income of 3500 Euro. Hierarchical linear regression model 1 was statistically significant (p<.01) and the sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education, income) explained 5% of variance in the interest in smartphone apps. Two factors were associated with higher interest in smartphone apps in model 1: higher income (β=.21, p<.01) and younger age (β= -.10, p<.01). Model 2 was also statistically significant (p<.01) and addition of the perceived eHealth literacy increased the amount of explained variance to 7% in model 2. Two factors were associated with higher interest in smartphone apps in model 2: higher income (β=.17, p<.01) and higher eHealth literacy (β=.16, p<.01).

Schlussfolgerung The interest in smartphone apps for health promotion and disease prevention among internet users in Germany appears to depend on higher income and higher eHealth literacy, but not on age, gender or education. Since smartphone use is highly prevalent among the German population and a number of apps for health promotion and disease prevention exist, public health interventions are required to promote the use of affordable apps especially among the socially disadvantaged groups. Measures focusing on improving the eHealth literacy in the general population are important to promote the use of digital technologies for promoting and maintaining health.



Publication History

Article published online:
22 August 2022

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