Why is it so difficult to govern mobile apps in healthcare?

Magrabi, Farah; Habli, Ibrahim; Sujan, Mark-Alexander; Wong, David C.; Thimbleby, Harold; Baker, Maureen; Coiera, Enrico

doi:10.1136/bmjhci-2019-100006

Cited by 48 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…It is noticeable that apps for patients were rated more critically by the physicians than potential apps for physicians. One reason for this skepticism among physicians could be the changed doctor-patient relationship or a new way of evaluating and using medical services that would result from these applications [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

eHealth Literacy of German Physicians in the Pre–COVID-19 Era: Questionnaire Study

Kirchberg¹,

Fritzmann²,

Weitz³

et al. 2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Digitalization is a disruptive technology that changes the way we deliver diagnostic procedures and treatments in medicine. Different stakeholders have varying interests in and expectations of the digitalization of modern medicine. Many recent digital advances in the medical field, such as the implementation of electronic health records, telemedical services, and mobile health apps, are increasingly used by medical professionals and patients. During the current pandemic outbreak of a novel coronavirus-caused respiratory disease (COVID-19), many modern information and communication technologies (ICT) have been used to overcome the physical barriers and limitations caused by government-issued curfews and workforce shortages. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the usage of modern ICT in medicine. At the same time, the eHealth literacy of physicians working with these technologies has probably not improved since our study. Objective This paper describes a representative cohort of German physicians before the COVID-19 pandemic and their eHealth literacy and attitude towards modern ICT. Methods A structured, self-developed questionnaire about user behavior and attitudes towards eHealth applications was administered to a representative cohort of 93 German physicians. Results Of the 93 German physicians who participated in the study, 97% (90/93) use a mobile phone. Medical apps are used by 42% (39/93). Half of the surveyed physicians (47/93, 50%) use their private mobile phones for official purposes on a daily basis. Telemedicine is part of the daily routine for more than one-third (31/93, 33%) of all participants. More than 80% (76/93, 82%) of the trial participants state that their knowledge regarding the legal aspects and data safety of medical apps and cloud computing is insufficient. Conclusions Modern ICT is frequently used and mostly welcomed by German physicians. However, there is a tremendous lack of eHealth literacy and knowledge about the safe and secure implementation of these technologies in routine clinical practice.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

eHealth Literacy of German Physicians in the Pre–COVID-19 Era: Questionnaire Study

Kirchberg¹,

Fritzmann²,

Weitz³

et al. 2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, using evidence-based information in designing patient education is crucial for improving clinical outcomes. 32 The web-based environment and tools can facilitate better patient education in caring process. 33 Limitations Although this study was a randomised control trial, the results should be interpreted with caution, as there are several limitations.…”

Section: Implications Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of patient education in acute stroke: a comparison between a customised computer system and a pictorial information booklet

Chu

Choi

2020

BMJ Health Care Inform

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundPatients who develop acute stroke are at high risk for deterioration in the first 48–72 hours after admission. An effective educational intervention is needed.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the applicability of the customised interactive computer education system (CICS) in patients who had a stroke in the early acute phase in order to determine the efficacy of the education system in (1) information satisfaction and (2) physiological related management compliance.MethodsThe prospective non-blinded randomised controlled study was conducted in an acute stroke unit of a local hospital in Hong Kong from March to August 2019. Chinese participants were selected if they were at least 18 years of age, experienced a minor stroke within 3 days. The exclusion criteria were communication problem and comorbidity with another acute disease. On the first day of admission, participants were allocated to the CICS and booklet groups, with each group comprising 50 participants. On the third day, the primary outcome, Modified Information Satisfaction Questionnaire for Acute Stroke (MISQ-S), was assessed.ResultsThere was a significant difference in ‘the need to improve information measures’ of the MISQ-S (p=0.04) between the CICS and booklet groups. The management compliance of these two groups did not have difference, but the CICS group had better clinical outcome, though not significant (p=0.387).ConclusionPatient education was needed and feasible in the early acute phase, and the CICS was more efficacious than the booklet. The positive results provided insights into and give a direction to the use of information technology in patient education.

show abstract

“…In addition, there are certainly smartphone apps that are not specifically available via an online platform and are not available for public download. The areas of application and functionalization of MHAs and MAs are extremely diverse and range from the management of chronic diseases, the support of health behaviors and even self-diagnostics[ 29 ]. MHAs and MAs can also provide infrastructure or support clinicians with clinical decision-making[ 29 ].…”

Section: Technological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, all digital interventions are highly complex, which means that both the development and the evaluation and implementation of such interventions are difficult and context dependent[ 77 ]. Gaining and accumulating evidence-based knowledge is difficult in a number of ways because the interventions are often not comparable due to the many different components that are often not evidence-based[ 29 ]. Moreover, as we mentioned before, even if a digital intervention has a profound evidence base, there is a significant regulatory ambiguity, especially for market access and reimbursement[ 78 ].…”

Section: Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of mobile health and medical applications on clinical practice in gastroenterology

Kernebeck¹,

Busse²,

Böttcher³

et al. 2020

WJG

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mobile health apps (MHAs) and medical apps (MAs) are becoming increasingly popular as digital interventions in a wide range of health-related applications in almost all sectors of healthcare. The surge in demand for digital medical solutions has been accelerated by the need for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This also applies to clinical practice in gastroenterology, which has, in many respects, undergone a recent digital transformation with numerous consequences that will impact patients and health care professionals in the near future. MHAs and MAs are considered to have great potential, especially for chronic diseases, as they can support the self-management of patients in many ways. Despite the great potential associated with the application of MHAs and MAs in gastroenterology and health care in general, there are numerous challenges to be met in the future, including both the ethical and legal aspects of applying this technology. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current status of MHA and MA use in the field of gastroenterology, describe the future perspectives in this field and point out some of the challenges that need to be addressed.

show abstract

Why is it so difficult to govern mobile apps in healthcare?

Cited by 48 publications

References 18 publications

eHealth Literacy of German Physicians in the Pre–COVID-19 Era: Questionnaire Study

eHealth Literacy of German Physicians in the Pre–COVID-19 Era: Questionnaire Study

Effectiveness of patient education in acute stroke: a comparison between a customised computer system and a pictorial information booklet

Impact of mobile health and medical applications on clinical practice in gastroenterology

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About