Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension remains a prominent public health concern in Saudi Arabia, contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. With widespread smartphone use and the national push toward digital transformation under Saudi Vision 2030, mobile health (mHealth) applications are a promising option for increasing self-management among hypertension patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the acceptance, preferences, and perceived barriers toward utilizing mHealth applications for hypertension self-management among patients in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2025 utilizing an online, self-administered questionnaire disseminated across the 5 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. The study investigated demographics, clinical factors, technology utilization, preferred app features, attitudes, and readiness to adopt mHealth solutions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were employed. RESULTS: Among the 1098 respondents, 55.3% were female, and the mean age was 45.0 ± 11.8 years. A majority (95.2%) owned cellphones, although only 22.1% had used a health-related app, and 11.8% had used one for hypertension. Most participants reported great interest in app features like medication reminders (78.4%) and blood pressure tracking (71.9%). Willingness to utilize mHealth was high (85.6%), and substantially linked with education level (P = 0.008) and number of drugs (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The study reveals considerable support for mHealth integration into hypertension care in Saudi Arabia. Tailoring app design to user demands and aligning deployment with Vision 2030's digital health agenda can boost chronic illness management and patient empowerment nationally.