Attitudes of General Practitioners Toward Prescription of Mobile Health Apps: Qualitative Study

Background Mobile health (mHealth) apps are a potential means of empowering patients, especially in the case multimorbidity, which complicates patients’ care needs. Previous studies have shown that general practitioners (GPs) both expectations and concerns regarding use mHealth could impact their willingness to recommend patients. Objective The aim this qualitative study is investigate French GPs’ attitudes toward prescription or devices aimed patients by analyzing perceptions technologies. Methods A total 36 GPs were interviewed individually (n=20) discussion group (n=16). All participants private practice. analysis each interview focus was conducted using grounded theory analysis. Results Considering value assigned resistance prescribe them, 3 groups defined based on positions adopted GPs: digital engagement (favorable attitude; perceived as additional resources complementary tools facilitate medical work, follow-up care, monitoring patients; increase compliance empowerment); patient protection (related management fear risks for about data privacy security, doubt usefulness standardization decision process, overmedicalization, individual freedom, increasing social inequalities health); doctor (fear tasks burden, actionability patient-gathered data, risk liability, dehumanization patient-doctor relationship, increased drug prescription, commodification data). Conclusions deep understanding fears essential motivate them results show need provide appropriate education training enhance skills. Certification an independent authority should be encouraged reassure physicians ethical security issues. Our highlight overcome technical issues such interoperability between collection records limit disruption work because flow.