Mobile Health Technology Ownership and Use Among Cancer Survivors in a Health System

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is associated with improved health outcomes among cancer survivors (CS), yet PA participation and access to PA programs in cancer care are low. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies such as wearable activity trackers and smartphone lifestyle applications are promising strategies to promote PA among CS. However, CS's adoption patterns and willingness to share resulting mHealth data with healthcare providers are underexplored. AIMS: This study examined mHealth technology ownership and usage as well as willingness to share wearable data with healthcare providers among CS and identified demographic and health-related correlates. METHODS: = 56.5 (SD = 14.5); 54.6% female) from a large healthcare system. Univariate logistic regression models examined associations between demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, employment status, health status, BMI) and disease (time since diagnosis, treatment received, disease stage) characteristics and meeting PA guidelines (i.e., 150 min/week of moderate to vigorous PA) and activity tracker ownership, lifestyle app usage, and willingness to share wearable data with healthcare providers. RESULTS: Nearly all CS (97.5%) owned a smartphone. Over half (52.9%) owned an activity tracker, and one-third (32.4%) used a lifestyle app. Most (64.3%) were willing to share wearable data with healthcare providers. Participants with a college degree or higher income, those who met PA guidelines, and those who were obese were more likely to own a wearable activity tracker. Along with those factors, younger age (< 65) and full-time employment were also associated with a higher likelihood of using a lifestyle app (p < 0.05). Being employed full-time was significantly associated with willingness to share data with a healthcare provider. No other relationships were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Many CS use or are open to using mHealth technologies. However, differences in adoption by demographic characteristics and unclear demographic and disease correlates of willingness to share data highlight the need for targeted, inclusive, and evidence-based strategies to integrate these tools into survivorship care. Understanding who adopts mHealth technologies is essential to optimizing their potential to improve long-term cancer outcomes.