The influence of Using Mobile Health Apps on Doctor-Patient Relationship: A mediation model of Health Information Sharing and Patient Satisfaction (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.53893
• Publication Date: 2023-10-31T16:38:49Z
• Authors: Yehui Nan; Wenwen Cheng; Liang Zhu; Canghong Wang; Jun Li; Siyu Zhang; Xiaohui Liu; Junqiang Feng; Xiaolei Liu

BACKGROUND In China, tertiary general hospitals are overwhelmingly crowded. Long waiting time and complex accessing processes have severely impacted on the patients’ perception of service. Meanwhile, it has aroused widespread concern among researchers who are seeking solutions from the mobile health application perspective. However, less research has been conducted on the impact of using Mobile Health Apps (UMHA) on Health Information Sharing (HIS) and tense Doctor-Patient Relationship (DPR). This study focuses on an empirical analysis on the impact of the UMHA on HIS and tense DPR.

OBJECTIVE In China, tertiary general hospitals are overwhelmingly crowded. Long waiting time and complex accessing processes have severely impacted on the patients’ perception of service. Meanwhile, it has aroused widespread concern among researchers who are seeking solutions from the mobile health application perspective. However, less research has been conducted on the impact of using Mobile Health Apps (UMHA) on Health Information Sharing (HIS) and tense Doctor-Patient Relationship (DPR). This study focuses on an empirical analysis on the impact of the UMHA on HIS and tense DPR.

METHODS We employed research hypothesis model based on the literature review. Additionally, a well-established scale was used as a data acquisition tool, and experts in the healthcare field were invited to revise the content of the scale. The study conducted a random paper-based questionnaire survey among outpatients at two Grade A tertiary hospitals, Nanjing Gulou Hospital and Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, between May 2020 and June 2021, and finally the research hypotheses and study model were validated.

RESULTS The study distributed 618 questionnaires and 582 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid return rate of 94.17%. The results demonstrate that the reliability of the subscales and the total amount were acceptable. Patient Satisfaction and HIS mediated the relationship between the UMHA and the DPR. The UMHA has a significant positive correlation with HIS, while has a significant negative correlation with the DPR.

CONCLUSIONS The positive effect of the UMHA and HIS on the DPR was confirmed; key factors affecting the DPR were identified, and valuable theoretical and practical guidance was provided on how to reduce conflict in the DPR by UMHA.