Researchers wanted to understand why some people use digital health apps while others don’t. They invited nearly 7,000 Finnish adults to try a free app designed to help them build healthier habits. Only about 1 in 5 people actually started using it. The study found that women, middle-aged people, those with higher incomes and education, and people already living healthier lifestyles were more likely to use the app. Interestingly, the biggest factor was whether people felt comfortable using technology and trusted online services. This raises an important question: are digital health tools actually reaching the people who need them most?

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Which types of people are most likely to sign up for and use a health app designed to help them develop better habits
  • Who participated: 6,975 adults aged 20-74 years from Finland who were invited to try a free health app called BitHabit. The group included people from different income levels, education backgrounds, and health conditions
  • Key finding: Only 18.5% of invited people actually started using the app. Women were 69% more likely to use it than men, and people with higher income and education were significantly more likely to sign up. However, comfort with technology and trust in online services were the strongest predictors of app use
  • What it means for you: If you’re thinking about using a health app, this research suggests that comfort with technology matters more than anything else. However, the study also highlights a potential problem: people who might benefit most from health apps (those with lower income, less education, or less healthy habits) are least likely to use them

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. Researchers invited 6,978 Finnish adults to download and use a free health app called BitHabit that helps people build better eating, exercise, and sleep habits. They tracked who actually signed up and used the app, then compared those people to those who didn’t sign up. The researchers collected information about participants’ income, education, current health, lifestyle habits, and their comfort level with technology and online services. They used statistical analysis to figure out which factors were most strongly connected to whether someone used the app.

Understanding who uses digital health tools is crucial because these apps are supposed to help people live healthier lives. If only certain groups of people use them, then the benefits won’t reach everyone equally. This study helps identify barriers that prevent some people from using health apps, which is important for designing better tools in the future that work for everyone

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of participants (nearly 7,000), used real-world data from a national health survey, and measured actual app usage rather than just asking people if they would use an app. However, the study only looked at one moment in time and one specific app, so results might be different for other health apps or in other countries. The study was conducted in Finland, which has high internet access and education levels, so findings might not apply everywhere

What the Results Show

Out of 6,975 people invited to use the BitHabit app, only 1,287 people (18.5%) actually signed up and started using it. Women were significantly more likely to use the app than men—about 69% more likely. People in their 40s and 50s were more likely to use it than younger or older adults. People with higher incomes were 76-97% more likely to use the app compared to those with lower incomes. Each additional year of education increased the likelihood of using the app by about 10%. People who already had healthier lifestyles—those who ate better, didn’t smoke, exercised regularly, and reported good health—were more likely to use the app. Interestingly, people who slept better were actually less likely to use the app, possibly because they felt less need to change their habits.

The strongest predictors of app use were related to technology comfort and trust. People who regularly used online services (like banking or shopping online) were 2.5 to 6 times more likely to use the health app. People who felt confident using online services were 2 to 4 times more likely to use the app. People who weren’t worried about data security and privacy online were 37-76% more likely to use the app. People who believed digital services could help them were more likely to use the app. People with better internet connections at home were more likely to use the app

This study confirms what previous research has suggested: digital health tools tend to reach people who already have advantages (higher income, more education, better health). This is sometimes called the ‘digital divide’—the gap between people who can easily use technology and those who can’t. The finding that technology comfort is the strongest predictor aligns with other studies showing that confidence with online tools is crucial for adoption of digital health services

The study only looked at one health app in Finland, so results might be different in other countries or with different types of apps. The study only measured who signed up, not who actually used the app regularly over time. The study couldn’t prove that these factors actually cause people to use or not use apps—only that they’re connected. People who agreed to participate in the study might be different from those who didn’t, which could affect the results. The study didn’t look at why people decided not to use the app after signing up

The Bottom Line

If you’re interested in using a health app to improve your habits, this research suggests that having some comfort with technology and trust in online services will help you stick with it (moderate confidence). If you’re uncomfortable with technology, starting with a simpler app or getting help from someone tech-savvy might make it easier. For people designing health apps, this research strongly suggests (high confidence) that making apps easier to use and addressing privacy concerns is essential to help more people benefit from them

Health app developers and public health officials should care most about these findings, as they highlight a potential problem: the people who might benefit most from health apps are least likely to use them. If you’re considering a health app, this research suggests you’re more likely to succeed if you already feel comfortable with technology. However, this doesn’t mean people without tech skills can’t use health apps—it just means they might need more support or simpler designs

This study only measured who signed up for the app, not how long people used it or when they saw health benefits. Based on other research, most people who use health apps see some benefits within 4-8 weeks if they use them regularly, but long-term success usually requires 3-6 months of consistent use

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your comfort level with the app weekly using a simple 1-10 scale. Also track which features you use most and which ones confuse you. This helps identify whether difficulty with the app itself is preventing you from using it regularly
  • Start with just one habit to track (like daily steps or water intake) rather than trying to change everything at once. This reduces the complexity of the app and makes it easier to build confidence with the technology while also building one healthy habit
  • Set a weekly check-in to review your app usage and ask yourself: Did I use the app as planned? What made it easy or hard to use? Am I seeing any changes in my habits? If you’re struggling, consider asking a friend or family member to use the app with you, or look for a simpler version of the app

This research describes patterns in who uses health apps but does not prove that any particular group should or shouldn’t use them. Individual results vary greatly, and many people without the ’typical’ characteristics of app users successfully improve their health using digital tools. If you have health concerns, consult with your doctor before starting any new health program, whether digital or not. This study was conducted in Finland and may not apply to all countries or populations. Always check that any health app you use is from a reputable source and has clear privacy policies protecting your personal health information.