Concerns are broken down into four key categories: infrastructure, distracters, privacy and security, and app developers.The first group relates to the network infrastructure at a healthcare facility or wherever the healthcare provider is aiming to use medical apps. Of course, without a cell signal, most medical apps won’t work. The researchers also note that some hospital set-ups could have bandwidth issues if too many healthcare providers are attempting to use apps simultaneously.
Distraction-related issues that the researchers noted include email sign ups, pop-ups, icons/badges, notifications, and email alerts. The distractibility of other apps resident on mobile devices has been a concern for many years. The patient’s perception that a medical profession may not be paying attention to them and making eye contact because they are using a medical app is a related concern.
The researchers cite concerns about medical app developers. Developers may lack an understanding of healthcare contexts and standards. They may be using data mining tools as mentioned above. They may also have included very little (if any) end user input during the design of their apps, which could lead to safety risks and inaccurate information or algorithms.
While the researchers’ concerns shouldn’t be new to longtime mobile health watchers, the report sums them up tidily. The entire January edition of the medical journal, which focused on mobile health regulation, is available for free as a PDF right now.
