Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41618328›Full record

ArticleBMC medical informatics and decision making2026

Intention to use smartphone medical applications among patients with chronic disease in southwest Ethiopia: an extended UTAUT2 model approach.

Fikadu Wake Butta, Alex Ayenew Chereka, Shuma Gosha Kanfe, Abiy Tasew Dubale, Adamu Ambachew Shibabaw, Gemeda Wakgari Kitil, Zakir Abdu Adem, Geleta Nenko Dube, Ayenew Sisay Gebeyew, Agmasie Damtew Walle and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Fikadu Wake ButtaDepartment of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia. fikadu261@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-6098-4564
Alex Ayenew CherekaHealth Informatics Department, Debre Birhan University, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
Shuma Gosha KanfeDepartment of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
Abiy Tasew DubaleDepartment of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
Adamu Ambachew ShibabawHealth Informatics Department, Debre Birhan University, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
Gemeda Wakgari KitilDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
Zakir Abdu AdemDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
Geleta Nenko DubeSchool of Public Health, Institute of Health, Bule Hora University, Bule Hora, Ethiopia.
Ayenew Sisay GebeyewDepartments of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Agmasie Damtew WalleHealth Informatics Department, Debre Birhan University, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
Feyisa Shasho BayisaSchool of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Teshome Demis NimaniDepartments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Health Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic diseases are a major global health burden, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia, where they significantly contribute to mortality. This underscores a critical need for effective prevention strategies. Smartphone medical applications (apps) present a promising tool for lifestyle management, promoting healthy behaviors and empowering patients. However, although numerous international studies have examined the intention to use mobile health (mHealth) applications, evidence from resource-limited settings such as Ethiopia remains scarce, particularly among patients with multiple chronic diseases. Thus, this study aimed to identify predictors of patients with chronic disease’ intention to use medical apps for lifestyle management in Ethiopia by applying an adapted Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model.

methodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic disease attending public hospitals in southwest Ethiopia. Participants were selected via systematic random sampling. Data was collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire based on the UTAUT2 model. IBM SPSS was used for data coding and cleaning. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), including Confirmatory Factor Analysis, was performed in AMOS version 23 to identify predictors, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

resultAmong 1,210 participants (94.0% response rate), 48.5% (95% CI: 46.7–52.4) expressed an intention to use medical apps. Performance expectancy (β = 0.60, p < 0.001) and facilitating conditions (β = 0.56, p < 0.001) were the strongest positive predictors of intention. Effort expectancy (β = 0.43), hedonic motivation (β = 0.39), and trust (β = 0.43) were also significantly and positively associated with intention. In contrast, greater privacy concerns were associated with lower intention (β = -0.34).

conclusionThe intention to use medical apps among Ethiopian patients with chronic disease is strongly influenced by performance expectancy and the availability of supportive infrastructure, while privacy concerns are a significant barrier. To enhance adoption, policymakers should strengthen digital health infrastructure and enact robust privacy protections. Clinicians should promote app utility by demonstrating clinical benefits, and developers must prioritize user-friendly design and stringent data security. These combined efforts can improve lifestyle management and reduce chronic disease complications.

Indexed as

IntentionMobile ApplicationsSmartphoneTelemedicineAdultChronic DiseaseCross-Sectional StudiesDigital HealthEthiopiaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultChronic diseasesEthiopiaExtended UTAUT-2IntentionMedical appsmHealthSmartphoneStructural equation model

Identifiers

PMID41618328
PMCPMC12931053

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.