Should there be an app for that? The case for text messaging in mHealth interventions.

TLDR: The promise of mHealth (mobile health) is to reduce health disparities by increasing reach to patients who have fewer resources and have been historically difficult to engage, but are apps the best option for most vulnerable patients?

Abstract: The promise of mHealth (mobile health) is to reduce health disparities by increasing reach to patients who have fewer resources and have been historically difficult to engage. App- and web-based interventions are increasingly the focus of mHealth behavior change interventions.1 Yet only a fraction of the 165,000 health-related apps (available as of 2015) are used; 12% of apps account for 90% of downloads.2 Nonetheless, the number of health-related apps continues to increase exponentially. Recently, physicians and experts in behavior change have begun collaborating to create apps with greater promise for improving outcomes. But are apps the best option for our most vulnerable patients? This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.