Public perceptions and engagement in mHealth: a European survey on attitudes toward health apps use and data sharing

This study investigates public perceptions and engagement with mobile health (mHealth) across eight European countries: Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Romania, and Hungary. The focus is on attitudes toward health app usage and data sharing, addressing data privacy and security concerns while highlighting generational and educational differences. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 6581 participants from the selected countries. The survey assessed current usage of health apps, interest in future use, willingness to share health data, and concerns about data privacy. Demographic factors such as age, education level, and geographical location were analyzed to determine their influence on mHealth engagement. The survey revealed that 21.87% of respondents currently use health apps, while 42.71% expressed interest in future use. Regarding data sharing, 52.82% were willing to share health data with healthcare providers, and 25.48% with public and private research institutions. However, concerns about data misuse (72.34%) and hacking (63.68%) were prevalent. Significant generational differences emerged, with older generations showing lower adoption rates of health apps. Education level was a key factor; individuals with tertiary education were more likely to use health apps and demand transparency. The findings emphasize the need for targeted strategies to improve digital literacy, address privacy concerns, and ensure equitable access to mHealth technologies across Europe. Tailored interventions are essential to bridge generational and educational gaps in mHealth engagement while fostering trust in data security measures.