Health Apps on Campus: A Snapshot at Debre Markos University

In 2022, smartphones became like extra limbs for young people, especially university students. At Debre Markos University in Ethiopia, health science students were no exception. They were exploring mobile health apps, tools designed to help manage health better, anytime and anywhere. This was different from traditional health services, which could be limited by time and space. But how many students were actually using these apps? That's what a study set out to find.

The study was conducted between April and June 2022. Researchers picked 423 health science students using a systematic method. They asked these students about their app usage through a self-filled questionnaire. SPSS software was used to analyze the data, with a P-value of . 05 and a 95% confidence interval considered significant. The questionnaire was validated by experts and found reliable with a Cronbach alpha of . 78. About 59% of students had 1-3 health apps installed. Most of them used these apps multiple times a day, with 40% having used them for a year. The study found that ease of use, skill, and trust in the apps were important factors influencing their use. However, many students reported barriers like lack of knowledge about the apps' benefits and insufficient time to use them.

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