TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence and usage of mobile health applications among mental health patients in Saudi Arabia
AU - Atallah, Nora
AU - Khalifa, Mohamed
AU - El Metwally, Ashraf
AU - Househ, Mowafa
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - Background: Mobile health (mHealth) applications provide new methods of engagement with patients and can help patients manage their mental health condition. Objective: The main objective of this study is to explore the prevalence of the use of mobile health applications for mental health patients in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 376 participants with depression and/or anxiety completed an online survey distributed by social networks which asked questions relating to mobile phone ownership, uses of health applications, and utilization patterns to track mental health related issues. Results: Approximately, 46% of the participants reported running one or two healthcare related applications on their mobile phones. In all age groups, 64% of the participants used their mobile phones to access information related to their own health. Also, 64% of the participants expressed interest in using their own mobile phones to track and follow the progression of their depression and/or anxiety. Conclusions: Developing mobile health applications for Saudi mental health patients is needed since it can offer opportunities for patients, researchers, caregivers, and legislators to work together to improve the state of mental health care in Saudi Arabia.
AB - Background: Mobile health (mHealth) applications provide new methods of engagement with patients and can help patients manage their mental health condition. Objective: The main objective of this study is to explore the prevalence of the use of mobile health applications for mental health patients in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 376 participants with depression and/or anxiety completed an online survey distributed by social networks which asked questions relating to mobile phone ownership, uses of health applications, and utilization patterns to track mental health related issues. Results: Approximately, 46% of the participants reported running one or two healthcare related applications on their mobile phones. In all age groups, 64% of the participants used their mobile phones to access information related to their own health. Also, 64% of the participants expressed interest in using their own mobile phones to track and follow the progression of their depression and/or anxiety. Conclusions: Developing mobile health applications for Saudi mental health patients is needed since it can offer opportunities for patients, researchers, caregivers, and legislators to work together to improve the state of mental health care in Saudi Arabia.
KW - Engaging and enabling patients
KW - Mental health
KW - Mobile applications
KW - Saudi Arabia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042934860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cmpb.2017.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cmpb.2017.12.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 29428068
AN - SCOPUS:85042934860
SN - 0169-2607
VL - 156
SP - 163
EP - 168
JO - Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
JF - Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
ER -