Knowledge and awareness levels of patients admitted to primary care regarding the use of wearable technologies in healthcare

Objective: This study aims to measure the knowledge and awareness levels of patients admitted to family health centers in Antalya regarding wearable technologies and their implications in healthcare. The study also aims to contribute to raising awareness in society and to provide data to the literature that could facilitate applications in healthcare such as diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in the future. Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using a face-to-face survey method. Participants who agreed to take part in the study were asked to complete a three-part questionnaire. The first section of the questionnaire included propositions regarding participants' sociodemographic data, health habits, and awareness of wearable technological devices. The second section consisted of survey items using a three-point Likert scale to assess participants' knowledge and awareness levels about the use of wearable technologies in healthcare. The final section included questions regarding the use of wearable technological devices, their purposes, and participants' concerns about these devices. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 27 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences – IBM®) software. A 95% confidence interval was used, and a significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 300 participants admitted to primary care in Antalya, of whom 59.3% were women. The age range of participants was between 18 and 79 years, with a mean age of 40.04±16.39 and a median age of 40 years. Regarding educational status, university graduates predominated with 46.7%. Among the participants, 55.7% stated that they had heard of the concept of wearable technology, while 25% believed they had sufficient knowledge about it. Additionally, 28% of participants reported using wearable technology products, with the most commonly used product group being smartwatches and bracelets (26.7%). The age of wearable technology users was significantly lower than non-users, while their educational level was generally higher. Moreover, individuals with chronic illnesses had a lower usage rate of wearable devices compared to those without chronic illnesses. However, no significant differences were found between wearable technology usage and variables such as gender, monthly income, regular exercise, or attending regular health check-ups. The most common purpose of using wearable technologies was identified as their accessory features (54.8%), while the primary concern regarding these devices was data privacy (43.3%). Furthermore, 82.3% of participants found the use of wearable technologies in healthcare beneficial. Of the participants, 70.7% believed that these technologies encourage a healthy lifestyle, and 82% considered wearable technologies to be an important part of future healthcare services. Additionally, 65.7% of participants expressed a positive view regarding the sharing of data collected by wearable devices with healthcare providers. Conclusion and Recommendations: According to the findings of the study, while the awareness level regarding wearable devices was average, the knowledge level was found to be low. Nonetheless, the majority of participants supported the use of wearable technologies in healthcare. It is recommended that efforts be made to educate and raise awareness in society about the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies. Addressing key concerns such as data privacy and the accuracy of measurement data is crucial. Additionally, it is essential to conduct research on the potential physical or psychological adverse effects of these devices and to alleviate people's concerns in this regard. Manufacturers are encouraged to develop simpler and more cost-effective devices with limited features approved by medical authorities and meeting clinical standards, rather than complex and expensive devices with numerous features, to promote the widespread use of wearable technologies. Keywords: Wearable Technologies, Health Technologies, Primary Care, Wearable Technologies in Healthcare, Wearables