How Americans Think and Feel About Their Medical Devices: New Survey Findings

American consumers who use devices that track and report data on measures of their health and wellness or that help keep them well are not a brand loyal group, a new survey found. Instead, they will look for recommendations and most often from a health care professional, followed by friends and family, and in third place, from product reviews. When it comes to choosing a smart watch or ring, a home blood pressure monitor, or maybe even an electric toothbrush, nearly three-quarters of 2000 adults reported that a device would be more trustworthy "when accompanied directly by a doctors' office reviews." Approximately half responded that they "don't care who makes their medical device, as long as it's capable and dependable."

Findings from the survey, conducted by Propel Software, suggest consumers are no longer ready to stand in line for the next newest gizmo to track steps or sleep, they are discerning shoppers interested in accuracy and dependability. The survey found that more than one-quarter of respondents had been alerted to a pending health issue by a personal medical device that prompted them to seek medical attention.

Consumer expectations for these devices will continue to evolve as home-based care and remote monitoring expand, particularly for chronic conditions. Medical device manufacturers will need to track needs and desires closely, given that nearly two-thirds of respondents would switch to a competitor's product that offered greater reliability or user experience.