JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Patient-generated health data (PGHD) are increasingly recognized as valuable for clinical care and secondary use, yet physicians’ perspectives remain heterogeneous and context-dependent.

Objective:

To examine physicians’ perceptions, intentions, and concerns regarding the clinical and non-clinical use of PGHD and to compare responses between tertiary hospitals and other institutions.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 157 physicians (81 from a tertiary hospital and 76 from other hospitals or clinics), supplemented by in-depth interviews. Between-group differences were assessed using chi-square tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Priority-ranking items were analyzed using weighted scores.

Results:

Overall, 64% of physicians reported prior PGHD use, most commonly in handwritten or printed form, with no significant institutional differences; physiological measurements were the most frequent type. Among nonusers, 79% had never received PGHD, primarily due to poor system integration. Physicians cited clinical necessity and user-friendly integration as the strongest motivators. Perceived benefits focused on enriched decision-making, while key concerns included data accuracy, increased workload, and insufficient evidence. For nonclinical use, research and public health were viewed as most valuable. Across institutions, secure and transparent governance was prioritized. Differences between tertiary and non-tertiary settings appeared to reflect physician demographics rather than divergent attitudes.

Conclusions:

Physicians recognize the potential value of PGHD but remain concerned about reliability, workflow burden, and infrastructure. Broad adoption will require not only technical integration but also regulatory reform and trust-building strategies to advance biomedical research and healthcare delivery.