Those with chronic conditions using digital health, but not to manage disease

Fifty-nine percent of consumers who use digital health apps and tools suffer from a chronic condition, but only 7 percent are using a disease management tool, according to a March HealthMine survey of 500 insured consumers.

Fifty-two percent of these individuals are enrolled in a wellness program and 33 percent received their health device/app from their wellness program. 

While consumer use of health applications and devices has doubled in the past two years, the right digital health tools are not necessarily getting into the hands of those who need them most.

The most popular digital tools are fitness/exercise/pedometer apps (50 percent), food/nutrition apps (46 percent), weight loss apps (39 percent), and wearable activity trackers (38 percent).

Of the individuals enrolled in a wellness program, two-thirds (66 percent) say their program offers incentives for using digital health tools. When asked: “What is the biggest motivator to use these technology tools?” The number one answer (42%) was “knowledge of my numbers,” respondents cited knowledge (42 percent) as the biggest motivator to use digital health tools. Only 10 percent of consumers said that incentives are their biggest motivators to use digital health.

However, when asked if incentives motivated users to use their digital health tools more frequently, 91 percent said yes.

“The use of digital health in wellness is growing, but it’s not necessarily being personalized to the individual level," said Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine, in a release. “Wearable activity trackers are just one tool in the box, and plan sponsors should customize both digital health technology and program incentives to meet the unique needs of each member.”