scispace - formally typeset
Journal ArticleDOI

Medical apps for smartphones: lack of evidence undermines quality and safety

Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
This work proposes several strategies to enhance the development of evidence-based medical apps while retaining their open nature, and establishes appropriate regulatory procedures to enable this potential to be fulfilled, while at all times ensuring the safety of the patient.
Abstract
Increasing numbers of healthcare professionals are using smartphones and their associated applications (apps) in daily clinical care. While these medical apps hold great potential for improving clinical practice, little is known about the possible dangers associated with their use. Breaches of patient confidentiality, conflicts of interests and malfunctioning clinical decision-making apps could all negatively impact on patient care. We propose several strategies to enhance the development of evidence-based medical apps while retaining their open nature. The increasing use of medical apps calls for broader discussion across medicine's organising and accrediting bodies. The field of medical apps is currently one of the most dynamic in medicine, with real potential to change the way evidence-based healthcare is delivered in the future. Establishing appropriate regulatory procedures will enable this potential to be fulfilled, while at all times ensuring the safety of the patient.

read more

Citations
More filters
Dissertation

Better medical apps for healthcare practitioners through interdisciplinary collaboration : lessons from transfusion medicine

TL;DR: It is argued that interdisciplinary collaboration throughout the app life-cycle is critical and how this can be facilitated and it requires that healthcare practitioners, software developers and others work together e ectively.

Reliability and Validity for Measuring Active Hip Rotation with the Clinometer Smartphone Application

TL;DR: The results of this study suggest the Clinometer Smartphone Application may be a valid and reliable alternative to the goniometer for clinicians when measuring active hip rotation in clinical practice.
Journal ArticleDOI

What helps or hinders clinicians in their decision-making processes when using or prescribing mHealth apps in practice? An exploratory study

TL;DR: This research established basic understanding of the acceptability and use of mobile technology in allied health practice and demonstrated a poor use of mHealth apps and a preference for a certain kind of evidence-based technique in clinical practice.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

Smartphone App Use Among Medical Providers in ACGME Training Programs

TL;DR: The clinical use of smartphones and apps will likely continue to increase, and the absence of high-quality and popular apps despite a strong desire among physicians and trainees is demonstrated.
Journal ArticleDOI

Smartphone applications for pain management.

TL;DR: Pain apps appear to be able to promise pain relief without any concern for the effectiveness of the product, or for possible adverse effects of product use, and there is considerable risk of individuals being misled.
Journal ArticleDOI

Smartphone Apps for Orthopaedic Surgeons

TL;DR: Few highly ranked apps specifically related to orthopaedic surgery are available, and the types of apps available do not appear to be the categories most desired by residents and surgeons.
Journal ArticleDOI

Medical professional involvement in smartphone 'apps' in dermatology.

TL;DR: In this case, IVIG therapy may be considered as a new therapeutic option in resistant forms of IGDA and the exact mechanism of action of IVIG remains unclear.
Journal ArticleDOI

Verifying quality and safety in health informatics services.

TL;DR: If informatics systems are increasingly essential in the delivery of health care then their integrity and quality must be of equal importance, but this has been scarcely recognised to date.
Related Papers (5)