scholarly journals The Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Protections for Mobile Health Apps

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (S1) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Federal Trade Commission ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Mhealth Apps

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an important role to play in the governmental oversight of mobile health apps, ensuring consumer protections from unfair and deceptive trade practices and curtailing anti-competitive methods. The FTC’s consumer protection structure and authority is outlined before reviewing the recent FTC enforcement activities taken on behalf of consumers and against developers of mhealth apps. The article concludes with identification of some challenges for the FTC and modest recommendations for strengthening the consumer protections it provides.

scholarly journals Multimodal mental models: Understanding users’ design expectations for mHealth apps

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 1493-1506
Author(s):  
J Scott Brennen ◽  
Allison J Lazard ◽  
Elizabeth Troutman Adams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Shared Mental Models ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Salient Features ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Employing qualitative structured interviews with mobile health app users, this research describes shared mental models for mHealth and reveals their complexity. The findings uncover prototypical design components common to mental models beyond health apps and suggest that users’ mental models are multimodal, containing distinct and often contradictory dimensions for evaluations of aesthetics and for craftsmanship. The findings also indicate that users’ mental models are informed by experiences with apps from across the mobile landscape. This research suggests that designers of consumer mobile health apps and mobile health interventions should incorporate prototypical or salient features. In doing so, they should index designs to trends across the larger app landscape and innovate the means to balance between multidimensional and conflicting mental models.

scholarly journals The Needle in the Haystack: Identifying Credible Mobile Health Apps for Pediatric Populations during a Pandemic and beyond

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1106-1113
Author(s):  
Alexandra M Psihogios ◽  
Colleen Stiles-Shields ◽  
Martha Neary
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Theoretical Support ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Pediatric Populations ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has ignited wider clinical adoption of digital health tools, including mobile health apps (mHealth apps), to address mental and behavioral health concerns at a distance. While mHealth apps offer many compelling benefits, identifying effective apps in the crowded and largely unregulated marketplace is laborious. Consumer demand and industry productivity are increasing, although research is slower, making it challenging for providers to determine the most credible and safe apps for patients in need. Objectives/Methods This commentary offers a practical, empirically guided framework and associated resources for selecting appropriate mHealth apps for pediatric populations during the pandemic and beyond. Results In the first stage, Narrow the target problem, end user, and contender apps. Beginning the search with continuously updated websites that contain expert app ratings can help expedite this process (e.g., Psyberguide). Second, Explore each contender app’s: (a) scientific and theoretical support (e.g., are app components consistent with health behavior change theories?), (b) privacy policies, and (c) user experience (e.g., through crowdsourcing feedback about app usability and appeal via social media). Third, use clinical expertise and stakeholder feedback to Contextualize whether the selected app is a good fit for a particular patient and/or caregiver (e.g., by considering age, race/ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, technology access), including conducting a brief self-pilot of the app. Conclusion Youth are increasingly turning to technology for support, especially during the pandemic, and pediatric psychologists must be primed to recommend the most credible tools. We offer additional recommendations for rapidly disseminating evidence-based apps to the public.

scholarly journals Quality Evaluation of Mobile Applications for Fine dust Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J B Lee ◽  
H K Woo
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
App Development ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Abstract Background Recently, the use of fine dust management mobile applications has been on the rise in South Korea. The aim of this study is to describe the current status of fine dust and air pollution mhealth apps used in Korea and to make qualitative assessments of them. Methods App search contents analysis 400 apps were searched using PM2.5, PM10 and yellow dust, the main keywords related to fine dust, referring to the preceding reference from December 30, 2019 to January 2, 2020. Among the apps searched, apps that meet all six criteria, such as those with 1) user score ≥4.0, 2) n of review Top 50, 3) those that do not duplicated, 4) apps that are related to the topic, 5) apps set in Korean, and 6) apps that do not have errors, were selected for the study. App assessment The app evaluation of the study utilizes the MARS scale, an app assessment tool developed overseas. The assessment was conducted for a week from January 3, 2020 to January 10, 2020. Each of the apps averaged scores evaluated over a week for each category and averaged over five categories for an overall quality score. Results The standard deviation of the information and functionality of the 30 apps was similar, with 3.62 (SD 0.38) and 3.58 (SD 0.43), respectively. On the other hand, engagement was the lowest with an average of 3.1 (SD 0.44). The average of aesthetics was 3.4 (SD 0.64), indicating that deviations between apps were very large Conclusions It is deemed necessary to improve the user interface (UI) and configuration of the app to enhance the application's engagement and aesthetics in order to increase the use of fine dust apps by consumers and gain effect. Key messages This research provided information that consumers can reasonably use and select mobile health apps by evaluating and reviewing the contents of fine dust and air pollution mobile health apps. this study is important in that it can serve as a reference for app developers to consider in future app development.

scholarly journals Mobile Health Apps for Self-Management of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Najm ◽  
Laure Gossec ◽  
Catherine Weill ◽  
David Benoist ◽  
Francis Berenbaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Moderate Quality ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Willingness To Use ◽  
Development Methods ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Although the increasing availability of mobile health (mHealth) apps may enable people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) to better self-manage their health, there is a general lack of evidence on ways to ensure appropriate development and evaluation of apps. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to obtain an overview on existing mHealth apps for self-management in patients with RMDs, focusing on content and development methods. METHODS A search was performed up to December 2017 across 5 databases. For each publication relevant to an app for RMDs, information on the disease, purpose, content, and development strategies was extracted and qualitatively assessed. RESULTS Of 562 abstracts, 32 were included in the analysis. Of these 32 abstracts, 11 (34%) referred to an app linked to a connected device. Most of the apps targeted rheumatoid arthritis (11/32, 34%). The top three aspects addressed by the apps were pain (23/32, 71%), fatigue (15/32, 47%), and physical activity (15/32, 47%). The development process of the apps was described in 84% (27/32) of the articles and was of low to moderate quality in most of the cases. Despite most of the articles having been published within the past two years, only 5 apps were still commercially available at the time of our search. Moreover, only very few studies showed improvement of RMD outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS The development process of most apps was of low or moderate quality in many studies. Owing to the increasing RMD patients’ willingness to use mHealth apps for self-management, optimal standards and quality assurance of new apps are mandatory.

scholarly journals Mobile Health Apps for Self-Management of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Systematic Literature Review

10.2196/14730 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e14730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Najm ◽  
Laure Gossec ◽  
Catherine Weill ◽  
David Benoist ◽  
Francis Berenbaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Moderate Quality ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Willingness To Use ◽  
Development Methods ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Background Although the increasing availability of mobile health (mHealth) apps may enable people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) to better self-manage their health, there is a general lack of evidence on ways to ensure appropriate development and evaluation of apps. Objective This study aimed to obtain an overview on existing mHealth apps for self-management in patients with RMDs, focusing on content and development methods. Methods A search was performed up to December 2017 across 5 databases. For each publication relevant to an app for RMDs, information on the disease, purpose, content, and development strategies was extracted and qualitatively assessed. Results Of 562 abstracts, 32 were included in the analysis. Of these 32 abstracts, 11 (34%) referred to an app linked to a connected device. Most of the apps targeted rheumatoid arthritis (11/32, 34%). The top three aspects addressed by the apps were pain (23/32, 71%), fatigue (15/32, 47%), and physical activity (15/32, 47%). The development process of the apps was described in 84% (27/32) of the articles and was of low to moderate quality in most of the cases. Despite most of the articles having been published within the past two years, only 5 apps were still commercially available at the time of our search. Moreover, only very few studies showed improvement of RMD outcome measures. Conclusions The development process of most apps was of low or moderate quality in many studies. Owing to the increasing RMD patients’ willingness to use mHealth apps for self-management, optimal standards and quality assurance of new apps are mandatory.

scholarly journals Evaluating accredited mHealth applications. An exploratory study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Sancha ◽  
Ana Gessa ◽  
Amor Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Quality Review ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Mhealth Apps

There are over 150.000 mHealth apps currently available, but few haveundergone an external quality review. Standards and validation practicesregarding mobile health apps need to be established to ensure their properuse and integration into medical practice.This study aimed to explore the attributes of mobile health apps that havebeen awarded by a Quality Seal, and how these attributes relate to the apps’user, developer, category and consumer ratings.For the analysis of the 30 acredited apps, we collected data from multipleopen data sources. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize h-apps’ keycharacteristics, and a chi-squared test was used to determine whether therewere significant relationships between the apps and their quality attributes.Although the applications analysed are characterised by their heterogeneity,this research found that seven out of 50 remarkable attributes had significantinfluence on the application evaluation process, according to therecommendations on design, use and assessment of health fromAppSaludable. Only some attributes (adaptation of contents, pilot testing,and accessibility and usability) were correlated with some apps’ features.This study can contribute to improving both the processes of validation andquality of medical care of the citizens and in general, the medical practice.

scholarly journals Mobile health apps are they the future?

2018 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-68
Author(s):  
Benjamin Patel ◽  
Zeeshan Akhtar
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Healthcare Information ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
The Future ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Digital Healthcare

The pros and cons of mHealth apps, the latest trend transforming digital healthcare information.

scholarly journals PNS187 US NATIONAL TRENDS OF MOBILE HEALTH APPS USE IN 2014 AND 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. S317
Author(s):  
X. Feng ◽  
T. Lavelle ◽  
P.J. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
National Trends
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