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eHealth and mHealth Development in Spain: Promise or Reality?

Author

Listed:
  • Xosé Mahou

    (Department of Political Science and Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain)

  • Bran Barral

    (Department of Political Science and Sociology, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Ángela Fernández

    (Department of Political Science and Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain)

  • Ramón Bouzas-Lorenzo

    (Department of Political Science and Sociology, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Andrés Cernadas

    (Department of Political Science and Sociology, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

Abstract

In the last decades, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has progressively spread to society and public administration. Health is one of the areas in which the use of ICTs has more intensively developed through what is now known as eHealth. That area has recently included mHealth. Spanish health system has stood out as one of the benchmarks of this technological revolution. The development of ICTs applied to health, especially since the outbreak of the pandemic caused by SARS Cov-2, has increased the range of health services delivered through smartphones and the development of subsequent specialized apps. Based on the data of a Survey on Use and Attitudes regarding eHealth in Spain, the aim of this research was to conduct a comparative analysis of the different eHealth and mHealth user profiles. The results show that the user profile of eHealth an mHealth services in Spain is not in a majority. Weaknesses are detected both in the knowledge and use of eHealth services among the general population and in the usability or development of their mobile version. Smartphones can be a democratizing vector, as for now, access to eHealth services is only available to wealthy people, widening inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Xosé Mahou & Bran Barral & Ángela Fernández & Ramón Bouzas-Lorenzo & Andrés Cernadas, 2021. "eHealth and mHealth Development in Spain: Promise or Reality?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13055-:d:699742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adoración Castro & Azucena García-Palacios & Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo & Fermín Mayoral & María Ángeles Pérez-Ara & Rosa Mª Baños & Javier García-Campayo & María M. Hurtado & Cristina Botella & Alberto B, 2021. "Predictors of Adherence in Three Low-Intensity Intervention Programs Applied by ICTs for Depression in Primary Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Michal Dolezel & Zdenek Smutny, 2021. "Usage of eHealth/mHealth Services among Young Czech Adults and the Impact of COVID-19: An Explorative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rocío Zamanillo-Campos & Maria Jesús Serrano-Ripoll & Joana Maria Taltavull-Aparicio & Elena Gervilla-García & Joana Ripoll & Maria Antonia Fiol-deRoque & Anne-Marie Boylan & Ignacio Ricci-Cabello, 2022. "Patients’ Views on the Design of DiabeText, a New mHealth Intervention to Improve Adherence to Oral Antidiabetes Medication in Spain: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader Jilani & Md. Moniruzzaman & Mouri Dey & Edris Alam & Md. Aftab Uddin, 2022. "Strengthening the Trialability for the Intention to Use of mHealth Apps Amidst Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, February.

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