Patients' attitudes toward their health literacy and the use of digital apps in health and disease management.

Background: No qualitative studies have so far been conducted about patients' attitudes and perceptions toward their own health literacy and the use of digital apps in health and disease management based in Austria.

Aim: In the context of digital apps, what are patients' attitudes and perceptions with regard to their own health literacy?

Method: Guided interviews were conducted with patients in an Austrian hospital to obtain qualitative data. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings: Responses to the research questions fell into three main categories: 'health', 'health literacy' and 'digital applications in health and disease management', with each having its own set of subcategories. Digital apps appear to be an important strategy for helping patients optimise their own health literacy, as well as their health or disease management. Challenges referred to the handling of sensitive data or the possibility of publishing unfiltered information.

Conclusion: Further studies need to be carried out to gain a more detailed understanding of the findings. Personal experience plays an important role in supporting quantitative findings.