Barriers, benefits of using mobile health technology postoperatively

Editor's Note

This survey of 800 patients identified a range of potential barriers and benefits to using mobile health technology to enhance recovery after surgery.

Potential barriers included:

• protecting personal health information
• technology effectiveness and failure
• preference for face-to-face interaction with their surgeons
• level of effort required
• ability of older patients to navigate the technology.

Possible benefits included:

• better monitoring
• improved communication with their surgeons
• minimizing follow-up visits
• improved convenience
• increased patient knowledge.

Of those surveyed, 15% said there were no barriers, and 6% said there were no benefits.

Patient concerns about data security and their fears of losing a personal relationship with their surgeons, must be addressed, the researchers say.

Recently, mobile health technology has emerged as a promising avenue for improving physician-patient communication and patient outcomes. The objective of our study was to determine the public's perception of barriers and benefits to using mobile health technology technologies to enhance recovery after operation.