The number of U.S. adults using their mobile phones for health-related activities grew from 61 million in 2011 to 75 million this year, according to a report from Manhattan Research, MobiHealthNewsreports (Dolan, MobiHealthNews, 10/2).
For its 2012 Cybercitizen Health report, Manhattan Research surveyed 8,745 U.S. adults by landline, mobile phone and online in the third quarter of 2012 (Manhattan Research release, 9/27).
Additional Findings
The report also found that the number of U.S. adults using tablet computers for health-related activities nearly doubled from 15 million in 2011 to 29 million in 2012.
According to the survey:
Nearly half of online consumers age 55 and older who own or use a tablet are using the devices for health-related activities; and
Among the 15% of adults who own smartphones, tablets and laptops/desktops, 60% are using all three for health-related activities (McCann, Healthcare IT News, 9/28).
Comments on Findings
Monique Levy — vice president research at Manhattan Research — said, “Growing ownership of connected devices and the access to digital health tools and information they provide is helping to drive the broader shift from intermittent to continuous care.”
She added, “This trend shows vast potential for changing key dynamics of health care delivery, including patient engagement, provider involvement and how preventive care is incentivized” (MobiHealthNews, 10/2).
