ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2017
Health App Possession Among Smartphone or Tablet Owners in Hong Kong: Population-Based Survey.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Inequalities in Exclusively Mobile Interventions Targeting Weight-Related Behaviors: Systematic Review of Observational Studies.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2026Pooled it
- Patterns and Characteristics of Mobile App Use to Promote Wellness and Manage Illness: Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Unraveling the Factors Associated With Digital Health Intervention Uptake: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- ICT communication with family/friends and its associations with mental health and insomnia in COVID-19 patients during hospital quarantine: a cross-sectional study in Shenzhen, China.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Experiences of receiving an mHealth application with proactive nursing support among community-dwelling older adults: a mixed-methods study.BMC nursing · 2024Article
- Article
- Using mobile health applications to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on users' perceptions.International health · 2023Article
- Predictors of Adherence to Cancer-Related mHealth Apps in Cancer Patients Undergoing Oncological or Follow-Up Treatment-A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Physical Activity Treatment in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus per National Treatment Guidelines for Germany: A Telephone-Survey-Based Analysis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Diabetes Self-management Apps: Systematic Review of Adoption Determinants and Future Research Agenda.JMIR diabetes · 2022Review
- Use of Smartphone Health Apps Among Patients Aged 18 to 69 Years in Primary Care: Population-Based Cross-sectional Survey.JMIR formative research · 2022Article
- The Complicated Relationship between Dieting, Dietary Restraint, Caloric Restriction, and Eating Disorders: Is a Shift in Public Health Messaging Warranted?International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Review
- Profile of adults users of smartphone applications for monitoring the level of physical activity and associated factors: A cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Determining the Effect of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) on Different Dimensions of Users' Work.Radiology research and practice · 2022Article
- Determinants of Continuance Intention to Use Health Apps among Users over 60: A Test of Social Cognitive Model.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Effective German and English Language mHealth Apps for Self-management of Bronchial Asthma in Children and Adolescents: Comparison Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Article
- Influencing Factors of Acceptance and Use Behavior of Mobile Health Application Users: Systematic Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Effectiveness of the Family Portal Function on the Lilly Connected Care Program (LCCP) for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Retrospective Cohort Study With Propensity Score Matching.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Article
- Article
- Challenges in Acceptance and Compliance in Digital Health Assessments During Pregnancy: Prospective Cohort Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHealth apps are increasingly used with important implications for health. Hong Kong is one of the most technologically advanced and connected cities-smartphone ownership and Internet access rates are among the highest in the world.
objectiveWe investigated the prevalence of health app possession and related sociodemographic factors and health behaviors among smartphone or tablet owners in Hong Kong.
methodsA territory-wide population-based dual (landline and mobile) telephone survey was conducted in 2016. Respondents were asked whether they had health-related apps on their smartphones or tablets and what functions were available on the apps (eg, tracking physical activity and logging health records). Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% CI of health app possession for different demographic characteristics, socioeconomic position (education, employment, and income), health behaviors (smoking, alcohol, and physical activity) and health (body mass index and chronic diseases).
resultsOf the 4129 smartphone or tablet owners (81.28%, 4129/5080 respondents), 995 (24.10%) had a health app. Tracking physical activity (67.0% of 995) and logging health records (43.0% of 995) were the most common functions of the health apps. Overall, younger age, higher education, and household income were associated with having health apps (all P<.001). Compared with physical inactivity, engaging in moderate physical activity ≥1 day/week was associated with having health apps (aOR 1.45 [95% CI 1.20-1.75] for 1-3 days/week, and aOR 1.32 [95% CI 1.07-1.62] for ≥4 days/week). Having a history of chronic diseases was associated with having health apps (aOR 1.36 [95% CI 1.11-1.68]).
conclusionsWe have shown a lower prevalence of use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in respondents with lower education and income in the most developed Chinese city. This could be seen as a confirmation of the "Inverse information law," which suggests that those most in need have less use of services and hence receive less benefits from advancements in medicine and health related ICTs.
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