Background: Mobile digital wellness and health apps play a significant role in optimizing health and aiding in cancer management and decision-making. Objective: This study aims to identify the factors influencing the use of mobile health and wellness apps among cancer information seekers in the United States. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Our analysis focused on 4770 participants who sought cancer information. We performed weighted univariate and multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between the use of health and wellness apps and socioeconomic factors, medical history and conditions, and lifestyle and behavioral factors. Results: A total of 4770 participants who sought cancer information were included in the final analysis. Of these, 80.9% (n=2705) were health and wellness app users, while 19.1% (n=793) were nonusers. In the final adjusted model, participants with household incomes ≥US $50,000 had 49% higher adjusted odds of using these apps than those with incomes <US $50,000 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.49, 95% CI 1.02-2.14). College graduates and those with higher educational levels were avid users compared to those with a high school diploma or less (aOR=1.87, 95% CI 1.30-2.67). Internet users had over 3 times the odds of using these apps compared to nonusers (aOR=3.28, 95% CI 1.70-6.33). Participants within the age group 18-34 years were 3.70 times more likely (aOR=3.70, 95% CI 1.90-7.23) to use a health and wellness app compared to participants within the age group of 75 years and older. Conclusions: Age, education, household income, and use of the internet are the major determinants of the adoption of digital health and wellness apps among seekers of cancer information. Hence, public health programs could be directed toward addressing these factors to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management using these apps.

This is a peer review report related to MS ID#64811