| Sumario: | Objective: Mobile Health (mHealth), a subset of digital health, requires people to own smartphones, but ownership barriers overlap with social factors linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden. We describe the prevalence of smartphone ownership, app use and mobile internet access and factors around uptake and utilisation among people with T2D accessing care in a community setting. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed with people with diabetes attending a community-based general practitioner-led diabetes clinic located in Inala, a multiculturally diverse but socioeconomically marginalised suburban region of Brisbane, Queensland. The survey was read aloud to participants, with interpreters if required. Results: There were 104 participants, the median age was 63 years, 47.1% were female and 44.2% spoke language(s) other than English (LOTE) at home. Smartphone ownership was high (85.6%), and average self-rated confidence with advanced feature use was between 'somewhat confident' and 'confident'. Older adults were significantly less likely to own smartphones, less confident with advanced features and less likely to use apps regularly, but many knew someone who could support uptake. LOTE spoken at home was not associated with ownership, mobile internet access, app use or self-rated confidence with advanced feature use, suggesting smartphone technology is already part of daily life. Conclusions: Smartphone ownership and utilisation does not appear to be a major barrier to mHealth uptake in our context. Older adults need tailored supports and education to encourage mHealth uptake. What is known about the topic? Healthcare gaps mean people with type 2 diabetes struggle to attain management goals. Smartphone-based digital health interventions can improve diabetes outcomes, but rely on smartphone ownership and confidence with use. Populations experiencing increased burdens of diabetes overlap with those experiencing barriers to smartphone uptake, potentially contributing to health inequity. What does this paper add? In a socioeconomically marginalised, multiculturally diverse community healthcare setting, we describe the prevalence of smartphone ownership, app use and internet access and factors around uptake and utilisation. What are the implications for practitioners? Smartphone ownership and utilisation are unlikely to be barriers to future uptake of smartphone-based digital health interventions. Focus on tailored supports is needed for older adults and females.
|
|---|