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. 2024 Oct 25;11:e54673. doi: 10.2196/54673

Table 2.

Status of health app use according to gender.


All Men Women P valuea
Use of health apps (n=2200), n (%) .55

Currently using health apps for at least 1 month 472 (21.5) 239 (21.7) 233 (21.2)

Used health apps previously for at least 1 month 189 (8.6) 101 (9.2) 88 (8)

Never used health apps 1539 (70) 760 (69.1) 779 (70.8)
Participants who reported current and previous use of health apps (n=661)

What features of the apps do you (or did you) use? (Multiple answers), n (%)


Tracking physical activity 487 (73.7) 244 (71.8) 243 (75.7) .29


Tracking food or diet 137 (20.7) 64 (18.8) 73 (22.7) .25


Tracking alcohol consumption 63 (9.5) 44 (12.9) 19 (5.9) .002


Tracking sleep status 138 (20.9) 82 (24.1) 56 (17.4) .04


Tracking physical data (eg, weight) 256 (38.7) 124 (36.5) 132 (41.1) .23


Tracking medical data (eg, blood pressure and blood glucose level) 87 (13.2) 54 (15.9) 33 (10.3) .04


Tracking medication 43 (6.5) 22 (6.5) 21 (6.5) >.99


Automated messages, push notifications, reminders 31 (4.7) 17 (5) 14 (4.4) .72


Searching for health information 61 (9.2) 29 (8.5) 32 (10) .59


Earning points and coupons 118 (17.9) 59 (17.4) 59 (18.4) .76


Sharing information with other users 21 (3.2) 11 (3.2) 10 (3.1) .55


Competitions and contests 22 (3.3) 14 (4.1) 8 (2.5) .28


Other 3 (0.5) 0 (0) 3 (0.9) .11

Do you pay to use health apps? n (%) .01


Yes 103 (15.6) 66 (19.4) 37 (11.5)


No 558 (84.4) 274 (80.6) 284 (88.5)

Do you use the apps in conjunction with wearable devices? n (%) .001


Yes 189 (28.6) 116 (34.1) 73 (22.7)


No 472 (71.4) 224 (65.9) 248 (77.3)

What motivates you to use the app? (Multiple answers), n (%)


I want to use it for self-health management 504 (76.2) 244 (71.8) 260 (81) .01


It was referred to me during health guidance 89 (13.5) 66 (19.4) 23 (7.2) <.001


My company or health insurer provided it 62 (9.4) 43 (12.6) 19 (5.9) .003


It was recommended by a family member or friend 66 (10) 34 (10) 32 (10) >.99


Other 27 (4.1) 12 (3.5) 15 (4.7) .56
Participants who only reported previous use of health apps (n=1728)

Reasons why they do not use health apps or why they stopped using health apps (Multiple answers), n (%)


I am unfamiliar with health apps 743 (43) 370 (48.7) 373 (47.9) >.99


I am not interested in health apps 511 (29.6) 283 (37.2) 228 (29.3) .003


Health apps are cumbersome to use 496 (28.7) 226 (29.7) 270 (34.7) .03


Health apps are difficult to use 80 (4.6) 46 (6.1) 34 (4.4) .17


I am concerned about security, such as personal information leaks 121 (7) 61 (8) 60 (7.7) .93


Health apps cost a lot 116 (6.7) 57 (7.5) 56 (7.2) .92


My internet connection is unstable 113 (6.5) 52 (6.8) 61 (7.8) .44


Other 24 (1.4) 12 (1.6) 12 (1.5) >.99

aChi-square test.