# Hospitalized Adults’ Willingness to Use Mobile Apps for Air Quality and Heat Monitoring: A Survey-Based Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how willing hospitalized adults are to use mobile apps for monitoring air quality and heat, finding that while awareness is high, adoption is limited by access and technology barriers.

## Contribution

The study identifies barriers to adopting digital tools for environmental health monitoring among hospitalized adults and suggests strategies for inclusive education.

## Key findings

- 84% of participants were aware of environmental health risks, but only 50% were willing to use smartphone apps.
- Participants in Maine (23% smartphone-less) showed similar app adoption interest as those in NJ (7% smartphone-less).
- Barriers included lack of smartphone access, unfamiliarity with technology, and doubts about app utility during hospitalization.

## Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation pose growing threats to health. Despite increasing recognition of these risks, climate-related education and counseling are rarely incorporated into adult inpatient care. A survey-based study was conducted with 250 adult inpatients on the medicine services at Cooper University Health Care (New Jersey) and Maine Medical Center (Maine). Patients received a standardized 30-s educational statement from their physician on the health impacts of air pollution and extreme heat, with introduction to two smartphone applications on air quality and heat conditions. Survey items evaluated patients’ prior awareness of environmental health risks, willingness to use digital monitoring tools, and perceived barriers to use. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used for data interpretation. Overall, 84% of participants reported awareness of environmental threats to health, indicating high baseline recognition. However, only 50% expressed willingness to adopt smartphone apps as protective tools with barriers including lack of smartphone access, unfamiliarity with technology, and concerns about utility during hospitalization. Twenty-three percent of participants in Maine did not own a smartphone, as compared with 7% in NJ. Despite less smartphone ownership in Maine compared to NJ, participants showed similar willingness to use the suggested apps for monitoring environmental conditions (53% vs. 49.3%). Responses suggested that while patients generally acknowledge climate-related health risks, enthusiasm for technological solutions varies considerably, especially among older and underserved populations. This study highlights a critical gap between awareness of climate health risks and the adoption of digital health tools for self-protection. While brief inpatient education may increase recognition, technology-based interventions alone may not reach all patient groups. Future strategies should focus on accessible, low-barrier methods of environmental health education in clinical care, including integration into inpatient counseling and discharge planning. Addressing technology access gaps and tailoring resources to diverse populations will be essential for advancing climate-related patient education in healthcare settings.