Assessment of Mobile Health Apps Using Built-In Smartphone Sensors for Diagnosis and Treatment: Systematic Survey of Apps Listed in International Curated Health App Libraries

被引：60

作者：

Baxter, Clarence ^{[1
,2
]}

Carroll, Julie-Anne ^{[1
,2
]}

Keogh, Brendan ^{[3
]}

Vandelanotte, Corneel ^{[4
]}

机构：

[1] Queensland Univ Technol, Fac Hlth, Sch Publ Hlth & Social Work, Victoria Pk Rd, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia

[2] Queensland Univ Technol, Inst Hlth & Biomed Innovat, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia

[3] Queensland Univ Technol, Creat Ind Fac, Digital Media Res Ctr, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia

[4] Cent Queensland Univ, Sch Hlth Med & Appl Sci, Rockhampton, Qld, Australia

来源：

JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH | 2020年 / 8卷 / 02期

关键词：

telehealth; mHealth; smartphone; mobile apps; instrumentation; health care quality; health care access; and health care evaluation; medical informatics; consumer health informatics; physician-patient relations; prescriptions; patient participation; patient-generated health data; diagnostic self evaluation; self-care; self-management; medical device legislation; CARE; TECHNOLOGIES; POCKET; STATE;

D O I：

10.2196/16741

中图分类号：

R19 [保健组织与事业（卫生事业管理）];

学科分类号：

摘要：

Background: More than a million health and well-being apps are available from the Apple and Google app stores. Some apps use built-in mobile phone sensors to generate health data. Clinicians and patients can find information regarding safe and effective mobile health (mHealth) apps in third party-curated mHealth app libraries. Objective: These independent Web-based repositories guide app selection from trusted lists, but do they offer apps using ubiquitous, low-cost smartphone sensors to improve health? This study aimed to identify the types of built-in mobile phone sensors used in apps listed on curated health app libraries, the range of health conditions these apps address, and the cross-platform availability of the apps. Methods: This systematic survey reviewed three such repositories (National Health Service Apps Library, AppScript, and MyHealthApps), assessing the availability of apps using built-in mobile phone sensors for the diagnosis or treatment of health conditions. Results: A total of 18 such apps were identified and included in this survey, representing 1.1% (8/699) to 3% (2/76) of all apps offered by the respective libraries examined. About one-third (7/18, 39%) of the identified apps offered cross-platform Apple and Android versions, with a further 50% (9/18) only dedicated to Apple and 11% (2/18) to Android. About one-fourth (4/18, 22%) of the identified apps offered dedicated diagnostic functions, with a majority featuring therapeutic (9/18, 50%) or combined functionality (5/18, 28%). Cameras, touch screens, and microphones were the most frequently used built-in sensors. Health concerns addressed by these apps included respiratory, dermatological, neurological, and anxiety conditions. Conclusions: Diligent mHealth app library curation, medical device regulation constraints, and cross-platform differences in mobile phone sensor architectures may all contribute to the observed limited availability of mHealth apps using built-in phone sensors in curated mHealth app libraries. However, more efforts are needed to increase the number of such apps on curated lists, as they offer easily accessible low-cost options to assist people in managing clinical conditions.

引用

页数：11

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