Health informatics: The ownership and use of mobile medical applications among Egyptian patients

What is it about?

The purpose of this study, which was conducted through a survey, is to describe the ownership and use of mobile medical apps (MMAs) by Egyptian patients. Findings revealed that 65.4% of Egyptian patients did not use MMAs, of whom 69.7% were male and 30.3% female, older, with at least a high school education and working mainly as farmers and non-government workers. The study also found that 34.6% of Egyptian patients tended to be MMA users, of whom 61.8% were also male and 38.2% female, older, educated and working mainly as businessmen/women and accountants. Many MMA users showed that they had been using these apps for less than five years. The number of MMAs owned was described to be moderate, accessed mostly from home/dormitory and work. Reminder apps, healthy life apps and general facility information apps were found to be mostly used by Egyptian patients who adopted these apps for reasons such as finding specific information, checking materials and communication. To meet these reasons, 97.1% of them were spending from one to three hours a day. Almost two-thirds of Egyptian patients confirmed that the use of these apps was at least fairly easy to them and all of them saw these apps as at least fairly useful. A large number of MMA users showed very positive attitudes towards the use of these apps, since they allow for easy dissemination of information and are described as easily accessed. They also showed some negative attitudes, since they are addictive, violate privacy, are frustrating and require language skill. Users faced some significant barriers, such as lack of awareness of MMAs, lack of language and technical skills and lack of training in the use of MMAs.

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