A study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reveals that consumers and patients are very interested in communicating with their doctors with wireless devices.
According to the study, 36 percent of consumers say that this would be their ideal way of sending information to their doctor, while 33 percent said that they would be interested in managing their health records online and 32 percent stated that they would be willing to have their consults with their doctors via online video.
"New technologies change the way we communicate with our doctors, and consumers are seeking mobile apps that cut down on the need for appointments, reduce costs and increase efficiency," Ben Arnold, a senior research analyst at CEA, said as part of the announcement.
Arnold has also commented on the role that doctors play in educating consumers about technology. In the study, he stated that "dsoctors play a major role in educating consumers about technology, as more than half of consumers said they consult their healthcare provider for information on health technology services."
Consumers have expressed the highest interest in body weight scales (44 percent), vital sign meters and gauges (40 percent) and devices that record progress through a fitness plan (37 percent). Of the mobile apps downloaded, the most popular are nutrition trackers (51 percent), fitness apps that measure workout regimens (36 percent) and customized music apps for exercise (32 percent).
