Interest up for mobile health monitoring

The number of Americans interested in using mobile devices to better monitor their health is growing, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive and HealthDay. One-third of Internet-using adults expressed interest in using smartphones or tablets to make doctor appointments, receive medical test results or communicate with their doctor.    

Respondents also indicated they are eager to use mobile phones and tablets for actual healthcare services, including monitoring blood pressure (38 percent) and blood sugar (32 percent). Out of all age groups from 18 through 65 years and older, individuals aged 25-29 years expressed the most interest in obtaining diagnostic tests using mobile devices.   

"This poll shows us that the public is interested in using these apps," said Titus Schleyer, head of the Center for Biomedical Informatics at Regenstrief Institute in Indianappolis, Ind., in a statement. "But the healthcare system has to make it easier for them to do it. Right now, many of these phone and tablet apps for these type of diagnostic tests are either just gaining traction or not yet available to consumers, researchers said.

Despite this growing interest, many respondents indicated concern about the privacy capabilities of mHealth devices, specifically with protected health information. Out of the 2,000 survey respondents, only 13 percent said they were very confident in the privacy of their medical information online. More than one-third indicated they were not very confident or not at all confident regarding mHealth privacy.