Nearly half of American adults, 48 percent, are extremely interested in using smartphone and tablets for checking blood pressure, 47 percent are interested in tools that monitor their heartbeats and 23 percent are somewhat interested in using mHealth apps and devices, according to a new Harris Poll.
The most popular health use of mobile devices is for fitness-related needs, such as tracking physical activity, with 43 percent polled indicating they're very interested in embracing mHealth and 25 percent somewhat interested.
The poll also showed that younger cosumers are the most interested in such devices.
"Millennials are more likely than their elder counterparts to indicate being extremely or very interested in many of the services and applications evaluated," according to an announcement on the poll, which surveyed 2,537 adults.
The high interest level aligns with a prediction that mHealth technology is moving from the fitness sector and into the healthcare realm quickly, with one analyst predicting the transition will take root in 2015.
"By this time next year, we'll really begin to notice wearables and other bio-sensing devices migrating from sporting goods stores to drugstore shelves," writes Mike Feibus, a TechKnowledge Strategies analyst, in a column at InformationWeek.
The transition, as FierceMobileHeathcare reported, will bring improved coordination of care, elimination of redundancy and inefficiency, shared accountability and, most critical of all the active involvement of patients in healthcare efforts.
The growing attention is likely due, in part, to the increasing number of apps and device innovations hitting the market. Apple, Google, and Microsoft are just three of several big tech players pushing out everything from health data platforms to smartwatches and smart wristbands.
The Harris Poll reveals Americans show strong interest in using mHealth apps and devices for general blood testing, diagnosing eye issues, monitoring blood sugar and glucose levels as well as lung function and diet tracking.
Overall Millennials are much more interested in mHealth compared to Generation X adults, Baby Boomers and adults deemed "mature," according to the poll. MoIn additon, more men than women are interested in using mHealth for medical testing and lung measurement functionality.
For more information:
- read the announcement
- check out the poll findings
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