Mobile Application for Healthcare: The Case of COVID-19 in Mobile Apps

Abstract

The COVID-19 era has forced us to reduce our face-to-face interactions. For this reason, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have substituted this direct relationship among people. One tool able to support health authorities by monitoring and mitigating the ongoing COVID-19 is Mobile Applications (mApps). They have also facilitated follow-up among patients and practitioners and provided direct guidance to citizens, so they can play their part in the control of the disease. The main purpose of this paper is to understand and analyse the features and functionalities of the COVID-19 mApps currently available in the widely used smartphone applications stores, such as Play Store and iTunes. The first results obtained at this stage of the research have permitted us to give a preliminary taxonomy of the mApps, specifically concerning COVID health management in Italy. The research found 71 mApps operating in the principal stores, focusing on the underlining features and aspects useful for making users more responsible and enabling self-management regarding their own health. MApps in the COVID period could represent organisational support for maintaining a useful relationship among patients and health operators concerning health care assistance. To do this, it is necessary to determine optimal capabilities and evaluate the utility and clinical benefit of these tools. Doing this, we have been able to recognise and obtain the first data and information through this research.

The hospitalization experience design using gamification applied to a pediatric 3d scanner for compound fractures

“…The rapid spread of smartphone applications and their reproducibility have contributed to improve the accessibility and the ability to engage patients in the healthcare process. If properly designed and aware of the sensitivity of the users, this healthcare practice can offer patients the opportunity to be an active part of the care pathway, interacting directly with medical staff in full compliance with measures to prevent infection (Reina et al 2021). With the growing sophistication and specialization of medical-hospital equipment, therefore, the role of design -as an innovation driver -is the basis for identifying new solutions to (i) reduce and prevent the trauma of hospitalization in pediatric patients; (ii) encourage the development of an innovative clinical practice that better meet the needs of care and improve the quality of work in highstress situations.…”