A newly released
Harris Poll reportedly
revealed that mobile healthcare companies can increase adoption of new technology by understanding their customers' "activation levels." The poll also found out strong physician and consumer interest in the emerging industry.
The Harris Poll was conducted in partnership with Cellular Telephone Industry of America. It assessed the attitudes of consumers and physicians toward mobile healthcare services like smart phones, wearable bio-sensors and chronic disease monitoring devices. The survey contained questions from the Patient Activation Measure, a tool used to assess individuals' knowledge, skills and confidence in playing a role in their own health and healthcare. In addition, a sister measure that assesses physician support of patient activation was also included. The PAM segments consumers into one of four progressively higher "activation levels" based on their answers.
According to Chris Delaney, CEO of Insignia Health, the mobile health industry will gain a deeper understanding of its users by identifying their level of activation and self-management competencies essential to successful adoption. Insignia Health supports organizations and their efforts to help individuals develop the behaviors crucial to becoming more active and successful managers of their health and healthcare.
The survey was conducted on a random sample of the U.S. population and a targeted physician sample from the Harris Poll Online. Results of the survey reveal that 78 percent of Americans expressed some level of interest. Both groups agreed that mobile health would make medical care easier to obtain and may reduce the number of office visits.
Mobile healthcare consists of mobile solutions that would allow patients to communicate directly with their physician or allow their physician to monitor, diagnose conditions and administer medications remotely.
The Patient Activation Measure questions assessed respondents' self-management abilities along a continuum of increasing activation. It was revealed that at the low end of the spectrum, individuals tend to be passive with regard to managing their health. However, at the high end, individuals understand that relationship and are the most likely to be early adopters.
The low activated consumers stand to gain the most from mobile technologies due to their poor self-management and high utilization of healthcare. However, the low activated are much less aware and familiar with mobile health and also less interested in its applications.
The Harris Poll also asked physicians about their support for patient activation. As per the results, physicians higher in activation will more likely believe that mobile health can reduce healthcare costs, provide more freedom and choice to their patients, and improve their overall health and quality of life.
According to Joe Porus, vice president of technology research group at Harris Interactive, the study demonstrates that the activation levels of consumers and physicians help to explain expectations of mobile health technologies. This information can be used by marketers and health professionals to build wide support amongst consumers and physicians.
A leader in custom market research, Harris Interactive assists clients in achieving business results.
Calvin Azuri is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Calvin’s articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Amy Tierney
