Uptake and adoption of the NHS App in England: an observational study.
electronic health records
general practice
patient portals
Journal
The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
ISSN: 1478-5242
Titre abrégé: Br J Gen Pract
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9005323
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2023
Dec 2023
Historique:
received:
29
05
2022
accepted:
30
05
2023
medline:
4
12
2023
pubmed:
3
10
2023
entrez:
2
10
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Technological advances have led to the use of patient portals that give people digital access to their personal health information. The NHS App was launched in January 2019 as a 'front door' to digitally enabled health services. To evaluate patterns of uptake of the NHS App, subgroup differences in registration, and the impact of COVID-19. An observational study using monthly NHS App user data at general-practice level in England was conducted. Descriptive statistics and time-series analysis explored monthly NHS App use from January 2019-May 2021. Interrupted time-series models were used to identify changes in the level and trend of use of different functionalities, before and after the first COVID-19 lockdown. Negative binomial regression assessed differences in app registration by markers of general-practice level sociodemographic variables. Between January 2019 and May 2021, there were 8 524 882 NHS App downloads and 4 449 869 registrations, with a 4-fold increase in App downloads when the COVID Pass feature was introduced. Analyses by sociodemographic data found 25% lower registrations in the most deprived practices ( The uptake of the NHS App substantially increased post-lockdown, most significantly after the NHS COVID Pass feature was introduced. An unequal pattern of app registration was identified, and the use of different functions varied. Further research is needed to understand these patterns of inequalities and their impact on patient experience.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Technological advances have led to the use of patient portals that give people digital access to their personal health information. The NHS App was launched in January 2019 as a 'front door' to digitally enabled health services.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patterns of uptake of the NHS App, subgroup differences in registration, and the impact of COVID-19.
DESIGN AND SETTING
METHODS
An observational study using monthly NHS App user data at general-practice level in England was conducted.
METHOD
METHODS
Descriptive statistics and time-series analysis explored monthly NHS App use from January 2019-May 2021. Interrupted time-series models were used to identify changes in the level and trend of use of different functionalities, before and after the first COVID-19 lockdown. Negative binomial regression assessed differences in app registration by markers of general-practice level sociodemographic variables.
RESULT
RESULTS
Between January 2019 and May 2021, there were 8 524 882 NHS App downloads and 4 449 869 registrations, with a 4-fold increase in App downloads when the COVID Pass feature was introduced. Analyses by sociodemographic data found 25% lower registrations in the most deprived practices (
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The uptake of the NHS App substantially increased post-lockdown, most significantly after the NHS COVID Pass feature was introduced. An unequal pattern of app registration was identified, and the use of different functions varied. Further research is needed to understand these patterns of inequalities and their impact on patient experience.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37783512
pii: BJGP.2022.0150
doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2022.0150
pmc: PMC10562999
doi:
Types de publication
Observational Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e932-e940Informations de copyright
© The Authors.