M-TECH Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, and Needs Survey of Stroke Survivors and Caregivers

Background: Despite their now ubiquitous nature and the overt excitement of mobile technologies (m-TECH), they remain novel and underutilized in patient centered healthcare delivery. We conducted a preliminary investigation of stroke survivors and caregivers' needs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors concerning m-TECH.

Methods: National Stroke Association distributed an online survey to a random sample of 601 stroke survivors and caregivers. The 25-questions survey queried about how stroke survivors and caregivers track their health information, their use of smartphones and available health-related applications as well as their perceived needs and preferences for a potential smartphone application. Specifically, data was collected on demographics, health tracking behavior, smartphone and mobile health application use, and interest in health management applications.

Results: Thirty-five individuals (20% were 61-70 years; 46% female) completed the survey. Of the respondents roughly 40% identified themselves as caregivers and 60% as stroke survivors. Most respondents identified medication tracking (79%), monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol (75%), and managing medical appointments (71%) as major concerns. The greatest identified barrier to tracking health information was forgetfulness (39%). Fifty-four percent reported that they currently use a smartphone, 50% of which were stroke survivors. Additionally, 44% of the smartphone users reported using their phones to track health information. Twenty-one (60%) respondents expressed interest in smartphone apps that can help managing health information; eighteen (51%) were interested in helping with the application development.

Conclusion: These results suggest that there is keen interest in smartphone apps that assist in personal health management for stroke survivors and caregivers.