{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T02:04:00Z","timestamp":1792116240448,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Mhealth Uhealth"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n The enactment of the \u201cAct to Improve Healthcare Provision through Digitalisation and Innovation \u201d (Digital Healthcare Act; Digitale-Versorgung-Gesetz [DVG]) in Germany has introduced a paradigm shift in medical practice, allowing physicians to prescribe mobile health (mHealth) apps alongside traditional medications. This transformation imposes a dual responsibility on physicians to acquaint themselves with qualifying apps and align them with patient diagnoses, while requiring patients to adhere to the prescribed app use, similar to pharmaceutical adherence. This transition, particularly challenging for older generations who are less skilled with technology, underscores a significant evolution in Germany\u2019s medical landscape.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aims to investigate physicians\u2019 responses to this novel treatment option, their strategies for adapting to this form of prescription, and the willingness of patients to adhere to prescribed mHealth apps.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Using an exploratory qualitative study design, we conducted semistructured interviews with 28 physicians and 30 potential patients aged 50 years and older from August 2020 to June 2021.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n The findings reveal several factors influencing the adoption of mHealth apps, prompting a nuanced understanding of adoption research. Notably, both physicians and patients demonstrated a lack of information regarding mHealth apps and their positive health impacts, contributing to a deficiency in trust. Physicians\u2019 self-perceived digital competence and their evaluation of patients\u2019 digital proficiency emerge as pivotal factors influencing the prescription of mHealth apps.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Our study provides comprehensive insights into the prescription process and the fundamental factors shaping the adoption of mHealth apps in Germany. The identified information gaps on both the physicians\u2019 and patients\u2019 sides contribute to a trust deficit and hindered digital competence. This research advances the understanding of adoption dynamics regarding digital health technologies and highlights crucial considerations for the successful integration of digital health apps into medical practice.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/48345","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,27]],"date-time":"2023-11-27T18:06:46Z","timestamp":1701108406000},"page":"e48345","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":28,"title":["Evidence of How Physicians and Their Patients Adopt mHealth Apps in Germany: Exploratory Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1733-6542","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tanja","family":"Schroeder","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0525-5294","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maximilian","family":"Haug","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7619-3668","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrew","family":"Georgiou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4611-9616","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karla","family":"Seaman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2107-2217","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Heiko","family":"Gewald","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","unstructured":"AlbrechtUVChances and Risks of Mobile Health Apps (CHARISMHA)Hannover Medical School20162023-12-07https:\/\/www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de\/fileadmin\/Dateien\/3_Downloads\/A\/App-Studie\/charismha_abr_v.01.1e-20160606.pdf"},{"key":"ref2","year":"2011","journal-title":"mHealth: New Horizons for Health through Mobile Technologies: Based on the Findings of the Second Global Survey on eHealth"},{"key":"ref3","unstructured":"\u00c4ltere Menschen und Digitalisierung: Erkenntnisse und Empfehlungen des Achten AltersberichtsBundesministerin f\u00fcr Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend2023-12-07https:\/\/www.bmfsfj.de\/resource\/blob\/159704\/3dab099fb5eb39d9fba72f6810676387\/achter-altersbericht-aeltere-menschen-und-digitalisierung-data.pdf"},{"key":"ref4","unstructured":"Driving the digital transformation of Germany's healthcare system for the good of patientsFederal Ministry of Health20202023-12-07https:\/\/www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de\/en\/digital-healthcare-act"},{"key":"ref5","unstructured":"The fast-track process for digital health applications (DiGA) according to Section 139e SGB V. 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