European respondents trusted health professionals most for app advice

What the study found: European residents most trusted health professionals, pharmacists, and government or health authorities for choosing health apps, but they more often used informal sources such as family and friends. Most respondents reported using at least one health app, and most supported government review and rating of health apps.
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that there is public support for government-led review and rating schemes to guide consumer choice. They also suggest that making trustworthy information easy to find at the point of download and helping health care professionals recommend high-quality apps could help bridge the gap between trusted and used sources.
What the researchers tested: The researchers conducted a cross-sectional online survey in 26 languages from December 7, 2022, to February 16, 2023, among residents of the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The survey included 11 questions on demographics, app use, advice sources used and trusted, and views on government review and rating. Only fully completed responses were included, and subgroup analyses examined trust by gender, age group, and education level.
What worked and what didn't: Of 1228 respondents from 33 countries, 1110 reported using one or more health apps. The most used app types were COVID-19 apps and activity apps; disease management, diagnostic, and treatment apps were used least often. Health professionals were the most trusted source, followed by pharmacists and government or health authorities, and there were no statistically significant differences in trust by gender; some differences by age and education were observed for select sources.
What to keep in mind: The study was an online survey of fully completed responses only, so it reflects the views of the people who responded rather than all European residents. The abstract does not describe other limitations beyond the survey design and reporting scope.

Key points

• Most respondents reported using at least one health app.
• Health professionals were the most trusted source of app recommendations.
• Family and friends were used more often than professional recommendations.
• Most respondents supported government review and rating of health apps.
• Some trust differences appeared by age and education for select sources.