Willingness and Preferences for Mobile Health Versus In‐Person Healthcare Services Among People Living With HIV: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Mobile health technology (mHealth) has made significant progress in the fields of disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This technology is particularly effective for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who often face social stigma and make in‐person visits to health centers difficult. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the willingness and preferences of people living with HIV (PLWH) regarding the use of mHealth services. Methods This cross‐sectional descriptive‐analytical survey was conducted in Iran in 2024. Data were collected using a researcher‐made checklist with three sections: demographic variables, willingness to use mHealth services, and preferred treatment methods. The checklist, designed based on previous studies, was administered to PLWH attending health centers in Abadan, Iran. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22 software. Results A total of 144 patients participated in the study; 26.4% were female, and 73.6% were male. The findings showed that 30 (20.8%) patients preferred in‐person clinic visits, 47 (32.6%) desired to use a mobile application, and 67 (46.5%) favored a combination of both methods for disease management. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between preferred treatment method (face‐to‐face, mobile, or both) and residency (rural or urban), familiarity with mHealth applications, receipt of services through mHealth, and type of mobile phone. Conclusions Most PLWH expressed willingness to use mHealth services, with a blended model combining mHealth and face‐to‐face care being the most preferred approach. mHealth may complement conventional HIV care by improving accessibility and continuity of services. These findings can inform the development of patient‐centered mHealth interventions, although further research is needed to evaluate their effectiveness and long‐term outcomes.