Mobile health and hypertension in the digital era: patient perspectives on mHealth adoption and self-management in Saudi Arabia aligned with the digital health objectives of vision 2030

TL;DR

This study explores how hypertension patients in Saudi Arabia view mobile health apps, finding strong interest in features like medication reminders and blood pressure tracking.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into mHealth adoption preferences and barriers specific to hypertension management in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030.

Findings

Most participants expressed high willingness to use mHealth apps for hypertension self-management.

Medication reminders and blood pressure tracking were the most desired app features.

Willingness to use mHealth was significantly associated with education level and number of medications.

Abstract

Hypertension remains a prominent public health concern in Saudi Arabia, contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. With widespread smartphone use and the national push toward digital transformation under Saudi Vision 2030, mobile health (mHealth) applications are a promising option for increasing self-management among hypertension patients.

This study aims to analyze the acceptance, preferences, and perceived barriers toward utilizing mHealth applications for hypertension self-management among patients in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2025 utilizing an online, self-administered questionnaire disseminated across the 5 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. The study investigated demographics, clinical factors, technology utilization, preferred app features, attitudes, and readiness to adopt mHealth solutions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were employed.

Among the 1098 respondents, 55.3% were female, and the mean age was 45.0 ± 11.8 years. A majority (95.2%) owned cellphones, although only 22.1% had used a health-related app, and 11.8% had used one for hypertension. Most participants reported great interest in app features like medication reminders (78.4%) and blood pressure tracking (71.9%). Willingness to utilize mHealth was high (85.6%), and substantially linked with education level (P = 0.008) and number of drugs (P = 0.03).

The study reveals considerable support for mHealth integration into hypertension care in Saudi Arabia. Tailoring app design to user demands and aligning deployment with Vision 2030’s digital health agenda can boost chronic illness management and patient empowerment nationally.