Attitudes and perspectives of nurses and physicians in South Korea towards the clinical use of person-generated health data

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the adoption of person-generated health data in clinical settings and discern the factors influencing clinicians’ willingness to use it. A web-based survey containing 48 questions was developed based on prior research and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model. The survey was administered to a convenience sample of 486 nurses and physicians in South Korea recruited through an online community and snowball sampling. Of these, 70.7% were physicians. While 65% had used mobile health apps and devices, only 12.8% were familiar with person-generated health data. Still, a promising 73.3% expressed interest in incorporating person-generated health data into patient care, particularly data on blood glucose and vital signs. The findings of the study also indicated that clinicians specializing in internal medicine (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.16–3.19), familiar with person-generated health data (OR: 2.6, CI: 1.58–4.29), with a positive view of information and communication technology adoption (OR: 2.6, CI: 1.65–4.13), and who see the value in person-generated health data (OR: 3.9, CI: 2.55–6.09) showed higher inclination to utilize it. However, those in outpatient settings (OR: 0.4, CI: 0.19–0.73) showed less enthusiasm. The findings of this study suggest that despite the willingness of clinicians to use person-generated health data, various barriers must be addressed first, including a lack of knowledge regarding its use, concerns about data reliability and quality, and a lack of provider incentives. Overcoming these challenges demands concerted organizational or policy support. This research underscores person-generated health data's untapped potential in healthcare and the pressing need for strategies that facilitate its clinical integration.