Preferences for Health Information and Decision-Making Autonomy among Chinese Patients with T2DM in the mHealth Era

This cross-sectional survey study explored (1) individual preferences for health information and decision-making autonomy among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM); (2) their use of mHealth in diabetes self-management; and (3) the relationship between their mHealth use and preferences for health information and decision-making autonomy. Sample size: 200 Mandarin-speaking Chinese patients with T2DM; age range: 26-90 years (Mean: 59.91; SD: 12.17); Mean time since diabetes diagnosis: 7.4 years. Data were collected in February 2017 via a paper-and-pen questionnaire at a general hospital in China. The questionnaire was in Chinese, and measured preferences for health information and decision-making autonomy and mHealth use. Key findings: Participants wanted to have a wide range of health information and participation in decision-making. Gender, health status, and knowledge about diabetes were associated with differences in information wanted and participation in decision-making, but age was not. Half (50.5%) of the participants used smartphones to access the Internet and look for health information; 71% used smartphones to receive/read health-related posts; and 24% had at least one health-related application installed on their smartphones. Smartphone use frequency for health information and participation in decision-making had a significant interaction effect (p < .01), the strength of which varied across seven subscales (specific health condition, treatment, laboratory tests, self-management, complementary/alternative medicine, psychosocial aspects, and healthcare providers). The overall health information wanted was positively related to use of smartphones to receive health-related posts (p <.01). This study has implications for research and clinical practice, especially given the shift from disease-centered to patient-centered care and increasing use of mobile technology in health care.