As technology continues to weave its way into healthcare, more and more patients are using their smartphones and wearable devices to communicate with their doctors, according to a new study.
More than 58 percent of Americans have shared information with a medical professional through their smartphone, a mobile app or wearable device. One in four have emailed or texted a photo of a medical issue to a physician.
The study, released yesterday by communications firm Ketchum, surveyed 2,000 Americans that own a smartphone.
The survey revealed that many patients are managing their own health from smartphones and fitness trackers. Nearly 50 percent of survey respondents have an app that tracks fitness, exercise, health or medications, and 83 percent use these apps at least once a week.
"This study points to a shift in people's attitudes and readiness to use technology to manage their health," said Lisa Sullivan, executive vice president and North American technology practice leader for Ketchum, in a statement. "With U.S. smartphone adoption at 68 percent, now is the time for businesses that have a stake in the healthcare industry to push to develop approachable, intuitive mobile tech offerings that help the ever-increasing mobile user population improve something as personal and important as their health."
The researchers broke down the survey results and categorized respondents into five user profiles based on how much they used technology to keep track of their health.
Discerning Digitals: The most active users who are constantly connected, but still like face-to-face contact with medical professionals.
Swayable Seekers: A group of users that only uses their smartphone to make phone calls. They like to access and manage their health online, but still feel like they have a lot to learn about using technology to its full potential.
Health Tech Hesitators: This group generally is not happy with their health and physical well-being, and is not comfortable sharing medical information online.
App-athetic Agnostics: People that love using technology but don’t use it to manage their health, and don’t have plans to within the next year.
Low-tech Lifers: Traditionalists who don’t believe using technology to manage their health with benefit them.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.