Impact of smart healthcare-based behaviors of elderly patients with chronic diseases on physicians' behavioral adaptations.

Background: This study aimed to investigate how the smart healthcare-based behaviors of elderly patients with chronic diseases influence physicians' behavioral adaptations.

Methods: Physicians providing healthcare services to elderly patients with chronic diseases between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2024, were recruited. A total of 100 physicians and 100 of their patients were enrolled. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Self-Efficacy in Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire (SEPCQ), the Chinese version of the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (WFPTS-C-10), the Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB) scale, and the Cloud Follow-up Service Experience Scale for Patients with Chronic Diseases.

Results: The mean scores were as follows: SEPCQ (50.54 ± 6.16), WFPTS-C-10 (107.82 ± 5.16), HISB (31.96 ± 4.94), and the Cloud Follow-up Service Experience Scale for Chronic Disease Patients (26.11 ± 3.16). No statistically significant differences were observed ( > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in SEPCQ scores among physicians of different ages, frequencies of individual communication with patients per week and years of working experience ( < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that SEPCQ scores were positively correlated with the scores of WFPTS-C-10, HISB, age, number of individual communications with patients per week, and working years ( = 0.264, 0.289, 0.311, 0.276, 0.333,  < 0.001), and negatively correlated with the scores of Cloud Follow-up Service Experience Scale for Patients with Chronic Diseases ( = -0.879,  < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, the number of separate communications with patients per week, working years, WFPTS-C-10, HISB and the scores of Cloud Follow-up Service Experience Scale for Patients with Chronic Diseases were significant predictors of SEPCQ scores ( < 0.05), accounting for 38.7% of the variance.

Conclusion: In the current healthcare context, behaviors of elderly patients with chronic diseases significantly influence physicians' behavioral adaptations.