Evidence mapPaperPMID 41820950Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Health consumers' use of mHealth applications in Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Dominic Dankwah Agyei, Dickson Dusi, Owusu Christopher Ntiamoah, Dake Daniella Nunya, Asiedu Charles Opoku Awuah, Christopher Ayisah

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Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Dominic Dankwah AgyeiUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, University Library, Ho, Ghana. dadankwah@uhas.edu.gh.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1703-8203
Dickson DusiUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ho, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-1128-223X
Owusu Christopher NtiamoahUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ho, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-4658-9993
Dake Daniella NunyaUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ho, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-7409-4212
Asiedu Charles Opoku AwuahUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ho, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-0693-0174
Christopher AyisahUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, Ho, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-0116-719X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMobile health (mHealth) applications are transforming healthcare delivery by enhancing access, reducing costs, and supporting remote health management. Despite growing global interest and adoption, awareness and utilisation of mHealth in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, remain unclear. This study aimed to scientifically assess the level of awareness and utilisation of mHealth applications among patients who use the Ho Teaching Hospital.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted among 232 patients at the Ho Teaching Hospital. Systematic random sampling was utilised. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using Stata version 17. Descriptive statistics, Chi-test, Fisher’s exact and logistic regression were employed to assess associations between sociodemographic variables and mHealth awareness, perception and usage. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence level.

resultsThe majority of respondents were females 143 (61.6%), with a substantial proportion owning smartphones 162 (69.8%). Further, it was revealed that most 127(54.7%) of the respondents were unaware of mobile health (mHealth) apps. Over half of the respondents 123(53%) had a good perception of mHealth apps. A minority 79(34.1%) of the respondents had used mHealth apps, primarily for 56(53.3%) fitness tracking. The study found that awareness of mHealth applications was significantly associated with age, sex, education, occupation, and smartphone ownership. Perception of mHealth apps was predicted by sex, religion, education, smartphone ownership and awareness, while usage was significantly associated with various demographic factors, including age, marital status, ethnicity, education, occupation, and smartphone ownership.

conclusionDespite high smartphone ownership, awareness and use of mHealth apps among patients at the Ho Teaching Hospital remain low. Targeted awareness campaigns and user education, especially among ethnic and religious groups, older, less-educated populations and smartphone owners, are essential to enhance adoption and optimise health outcomes through mHealth in Ghana.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMobile ApplicationsTelemedicineAdolescentAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesDigital HealthFemaleGhanaHospitals, TeachingHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultDigital literacyGhanaHealthcare accessmHealth applicationsMobile healthSmartphones

Identifiers

PMID41820950
PMCPMC13097972

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.