Predictive analytics and decision management software company FICO has unveiled results of its global survey that looked at consumer preferences and tendencies with regards to mobile, online and in-person interactions with health care providers.

76% of people worldwide are keen to be reminded of their medical appointments and 69% would like to receive reminders to arrange appointments or to prompt them to take their medication.According to their findings, 80% of people would like the option to use their smartphones to interact with health care providers, which include government and private insurers, hospitals, pharmacies, mail-order drug companies, third party administrators and clinics. The survey also showed that 76% of people worldwide are keen to be reminded of their medical appointments and 69% would like to receive reminders to arrange appointments or to prompt them to take their medication.

“The way health care organizations communicate with people is changing, as individuals become more and more sophisticated about using information technology to make health-related decisions,” said Stuart Wells, FICO’s chief product and technology officer. “People are especially interested in mobile services that can help them manage their personal health and shop for health care services.”

71% of smartphone users are open to offers of relevant healthcare services from businesses, and 53% are open to provider-initiated communications.The FICO survey showed that 56% of people worldwide trust health care organizations with personal data. So while e-health records have yet to take off in many countries, simple innovations around mobile alerts and information services are helping to build the trust necessary for this trend to continue.

The potential for mobile technology in health care ties in with another emerging trend – an increase in the use of alternative advice channels. Almost two-thirds of smartphone users want to receive medical advice through digital channels instead of visiting a doctor. In addition, 71% of smartphone users are open to offers of relevant healthcare services from businesses, and 53% are open to provider-initiated communications.

The survey included 2,239 adult smartphone users in the UK, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and the United States.