Research : Mobile Medicine in the Developing World.
Mobile Medicine in the Developing World
Nasser Al Mufarji
Wright State University
The wide spread use of mobile applications has improved the way people work. The
mobile applications are now useful in the health sector for both the physicians
as well as for the patients in developed countries. Physicians use these
applications to gain access to useful information at any time. Patients use these
applications for a healthy lifestyle. These mobile applications are simply software
programs that are used in smartphones or any other mobile communication devices.
They can also be small parts that are attached to the existing mobile devices.
Patients can use medical apps to monitor caloric intake, or to check their blood sugar
(Goyal, 2013). On the other hand, physicians use these medical apps to improve
and facilitate patient care, for diagnosing and treating injuries, or even for
diagnosing cancer and other abnormalities in the human body. These mobile
applications are also referred to as Mobile Health which conveys the same
meaning of using mobile telecommunication devices like mobile phones, tablet
computers and PDAs for health services and information. They can also be used
for collecting clinical data and delivering this information to physicians,
researchers, and patients in real-time. The developing countries have also
started using these mobile devices. For example, patients can receive SMS
messages as reminders of their appointments (Muessig et al., 2013).
Apart from the mobile devices, there are other applications being researched that
will play a major role in the health sector (Ritger, 2013). Though this research is
aimed at developed countries, the developing countries will be able to enjoy this
technology through free and open-source software as the starting point.
Some of these mobile technology applications include patient
monitoring devices, mobile telemedicine devices, and microcomputers.
Data collection software and mobile operating system technology
play major roles in the implementation of mobile medicine as well.
The Use of Mobile Applications
With social media being a widespread method of communication, people are now free to
ask questions and get answers. These tools are suitable for delivering HIV
prevention programs in a cost effective way to young people through the media
that they are already using (Muessig et al., 2013). This technology is
accessible through any smartphone with an internet connection. Since mobile
phones are available in any country in the world, mobile health is increasingly
recognized as an effective way to develop HIV prevention programs. Research has
been done to identify and evaluate mobile phone apps related to prevention and
care of HIV. Though these apps failed to attract users’ attention and positive
views, physicians should continue to work hard with the developers in order to
improve these apps so that the results are accurate.
Diabetes comes in different forms and affects people of different age groups. It is
affecting people every year. The new trend in technology makes it easier for
patients to monitor their diabetes (Goyal, 2013). Mobile health applications
are very helpful for self-management by providing accessible ways for the
patients to monitor their glucose levels by themselves. This technology will
help provide additional information to the physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.
Though there are promising results using these apps, there is still more to be
learned about the accuracy of these gadgets.
Mobile technology is also used by adults to understand their everyday health issues,
including diet and exercise (Muessig et al., 2013). Physicians
use text messaging apps to send messages to patients, asking questions about
their general state of health. Patients reply to the physicians through texting.
If there is any issue to be addressed, then the physician will make an
appointment for the patient
Mobile apps are also used for children with behavior problems. The applications can be
used by parents at home or by teachers in schools. It is a great tool,
especially for those children with Autism (Muessig et al., 2013). An
example of this app, which is also used in hospitals, is My Routine. A photo
which is familiar to the child is uploaded in My Routine. The familiarity of the
photo helps the child to recognize the photo by clicking it. Sound can also be
uploaded to encourage the child while getting treatment in the hospital. The
application is very useful in reducing anxiety for these children. For the
upcoming appointment of the child, parents can upload the picture of the doctor
to familiarize the child with that particular doctor. This application can be
downloaded for free from the internet.
My Chart, which is an electronic healthcare record, is easily accessible with a
smart phone. It provides access to lab results, appointment information, any
medication that a person is currently taking, and immunization history. Other
features include viewing patients’ records and the ability to request
appointments as well as prescription refills any time, night or day. Doctors
can also be asked any non-urgent questions. Parents can also view their
children’s medical information at any time. This application is available with
iPhone and Android smart phones by downloading through the app
store.
The Use of Mobile Applications in Developing Countries
Developing countries face a huge challenge in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Mobile
health technology, specifically the use of mobile phones, provides support in
responding to different types of diseases. Without the apps, it used to take
ages for illnesses to be detected (Jason, 2013).
However, in the present day, diseases can be reported by using a message sent to the physician. Even though these apps are already in use in developed countries, some of these apps
might take time to be available in developing countries on devices such as smart
phones. Companies are looking forward to investing in the technology that will
help the developing countries. Presently, a company called Ringful is developing
these apps for pre-industrialized nations.
Pharmaceutical companies could also benefit from these apps. For example,
these apps allow companies to understand the demand of their products by keeping
a record of what products are used most. This is done by collecting data on how
people in these countries respond to drug treatment. The data is valuable for
developers. The drug companies could then use the mobile phones to ensure that
drugs reach their desired destinations at the appropriate times. Issues arise,
however, if these drugs fall into the wrong hands. The drugs could end up being
counterfeit, stolen, or sold illegally. Regardless, companies expect positive
results and the software can be beneficial to increasing their profits. The data
was gathered via mobile phones and is now used in the health ministries of 20
countries in Africa (Nrooney, 2012).
The application has changed the way people report illnesses.
Mobile phones have changed the lives of people in developing countries. They are widely
used in Africa for bank transactions. People are able to send and receive money
through their mobile devices (Morgan, 2013).
Mobile money is widely used by people to pay their bills, make payments to other
people and receive remittances from relatives abroad.
In 2011, the uprisings across North Africa were made possible by
communicating through mobile devices.
Realizing this, the former president of Egypt exerted pressure on Egypt’s
networks in order to slow down the opposition activity. In the aftermath of the
elections in Kenya, violence was reported via text messages which were then
viewed by the rest of the world.
Since the cost of mobile phones is cheaper than that of PCs, it
is hoped that mobile phones will be used as tools for delivering teaching
materials to students. This will boost the education system in these developing
countries, especially for those children who are not receiving any formal
education.
In South Africa, a physician worried that his patients did not take their
prescribed medicine on time (Dominic, 2013). Elderly people suffering from
memory loss often forget to take their medications and for the drugs to be
effective, these patients have to take their pills at the appropriate times.
Otherwise, the drugs will have little effect. To address this issue, the doctor
set up a messaging system for each of his patients. The system sends messages
daily to the patients, reminding them to take their medications. This automated
system is set up in different languages, including the mother tongue of that
particular area.
In Bangladesh, maternal mortality is the biggest killer. To improve patient awareness, doctors launched a piece of software called Mobile4Health. This system provides information on how to take care of expectant mothers during pregnancies. It also informs people about family planning, breast
feeding, and early signs of possible infant problems.
This software is funded by USAID and is now used in India and South Africa (Dominic, 2013).
eHealth is a system in its pilot study which aims to digitalize health information in Bangladesh.
This use of digital resources will broaden the reach of key messages for health, population,
and nutrition. Netbooks containing the eHealth software have been distributed to community
health workers. The orientation program is ongoing to educate the health workers on how to use the
netbook and the software.
Challenges Facing Mobile Health Applications
Developing mobile health applications is not an easy task. Some challenges that health apps
have yet to overcome include maintaining consumer privacy and security (Mossop, 2013). Furthermore, the development of these apps is costly and there is a lack of research showing improved health outcomes. Moreover, other challenges include:
Physicians and patients need to recognize the role apps can play in healthcare.
Security and privacy must be guaranteed among providers, patients and developers.
There should be an evaluation of apps to determine their appropriate use.
The apps must be integrated with other aspects of patient care.
No matter how effective the apps are, they need to fit into patients' routines and
need to protect their privacy. More evidence of their effectiveness and their
cost has yet to be addressed in the developing countries. Most of the apps are
specific to mobile devices and their operating systems. Thus, different versions
need to be developed to support the different types of mobile phones. This slows
down the development of new apps (Dean, 2009). It is also difficult to develop
mobile apps with different languages that align with the developing countries.
The default language has always been English. For non-English speakers, the
use of these apps is a challenge due to the language barrier. In some areas,
some patients do not understand how to use the smartphones and may wonder
why a physician is using a smartphone while attending to the patients.
The use of electronic medical records has increased dramatically. In hospitals,
physicians and nurses are using the electronic recording of patients' data
(Ritger, 2013). One of the biggest drawbacks is the cost. Not only is the price high, but hospitals
need to convert all their charts into an electronic form. Patients' records
might not be transferred into the electronic form, due to human error.
Therefore, doctors might not be aware of the patients’ situations. Training on
electronic medical records software also adds additional expenses. Hospitals
must pay both trainers and trainees in order to implement these
systems.
The Future of Mobile Health
Research shows that no technology has ever been adopted as fast as the smartphone.
People have adopted these devices faster than automobiles, personal computers, and even
the internet. We are already seeing how technology helps patients monitor their
health and interact with their healthcare providers. With smartphones, users can
connect with their physicians anywhere in the world and get the required
information about their health (Ritger, 2013). Mobile apps are already saving lives. In remote areas, where patient visits to the
clinic can be difficult, physicians can be connected to their patients through
wireless technology. Doctors are then able to spot the condition of the patient
and take necessary action of treatment.
Mobile technology will play an important role in the coming years. The mHealth market
will increase significantly. Though there are challenges facing the healthcare
industry, mobile technology will be helpful in overcoming these challenges.
Mobile devices are predicted to play a greater role in the healthcare industry
for both developing and developed countries. By 2017, mobile technology will be
delivering healthcare to every corner of the globe (Nrooney, 2012).
In order for the mobile apps to be successful, governments and healthcare providers
need to work together with mobile operators to support the trend of mHealth
application (Ritger, 2013). This will include the following key factors:
·
Government support: Adoption of mHealth in developing countries depends on the governments
of these specific countries. They should be willing to take necessary steps in
improving access and affordability of healthcare.
·
Regulatory support: Regulators should be able to support implementation by emphasizing the
growth of mHealth services in developing countries. This can be done by making
the process of certification and standardization hassle free.
·
Healthcare industry acceptance: In additional to government support, key players such as
corporations, researchers, and medical professionals are vital in making the
process effective and efficient.
·
User adoption: Individual persons will help improve the growth and market of mHealth,
simply by using these services. Physicians as well as patients should be able to
make the use of mHealth affordably and easily.
In this changing industry, mobile health care is critical because it is beginning
to define the future of healthcare. Its use has become a global reality. With
the emerging markets, mHealth is moving faster in developing nations. Though
patients believe mHealth would improve their health, some doctors think it has
interfered with their traditional method of treating patients. However, we have
seen how our lives have been transformed in using the apps (Ritger, 2013).
Conclusions
To sum up, we have seen how mobile apps have transformed our lives, from reminding
us about appointments to detection of fetal diseases. The HIV prevention
programs will surely change the lives of people in Africa. If the apps are
efficient, people will be aware of fetal disease and will be more likely to
prevent it. As a result, the number of people dying from the fetal disease would
be reduced dramatically. The advance in technology has made this possible.
Though there are promising results, there is still more to be learned about the
accuracy of these gadgets and their cost.
Adults have been using the gadgets by wearing them like a watch. Whenever
they feel uncomfortable with their health, by pressing a button, the ambulance
will arrive at their home within minutes. This is remarkable. By saving time,
the patient is saved. If a victim of stroke or heart attack is delayed
treatment, his/her life will be in danger. Parents can also use the gadget to
locate their children when they get lost.
The My Routine application has been successful with autistic children by
reducing their anxiety. The drawback in developing countries is that not
everyone can afford the software. Internet connection in rural areas has
remained a challenge. Electricity is another issue to be considered.
People without electricity are less likely to receive the benefits of applications such
as these.
My Chart, which provides access to lab results, appointment information,
medication schedule that patients are taking and immunization history, is a very
helpful tool. Still, patients challenge the privacy and security issues of the
application. This shows that privacy is still a concern for users of these
applications.
Though there are lots of challenges facing medical health applications,
it can be seen how these apps have changed lives. It used to take ages for
illnesses to be detected. In present day, diseases are easily reported by using
a text message sent to the physician.
Mobile apps have changed the way people do business in Africa. They can
now send and receive money through their mobile devices. There is no need to go
to the bank. Internet connection is not required for this service since it is
done through the text messaging system. This is an example of how this
technology already widely used. These applications not only benefit the health
sector, but they have an effect on political issues as well. The uprisings in
North Africa and Kenya are some of the examples. Furthermore, education cost in
Africa will soon be reduced. Mobile apps for delivering teaching materials to
students have been introduced.
Physicians should take extra precaution in using the apps by ensuring
that proper medication is delivered to the patient. Physicians using smartphones
in their practice must ensure that the apps are updated. Any apps recommended to
patients should be carefully vetted for the content. In the end, it is the physician’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their
patients.
References
Goyal, S., & Cafazzo, J. A. (2013). Mobile phone health apps
for diabetes management: Current evidence and future developments.
QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians,
doi:10.1093/qjmed/hct203
Muessig, K. E., Pike, E. C., Legrand, S., & Hightow-Weidman,
L. B. (2013). Mobile phone applications for the care and prevention of HIV and
other sexually transmitted diseases: A review.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(1), e1. doi:10.2196/jmir.2301;
10.2196/jmir.2301
Schnall, R., Okoniewski, A., Tiase, V., Low, A., Rodriguez, M.,
& Kaplan, S. (2013). Using text messaging to assess adolescents' health
information needs: An ecological momentary assessment.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(3), e54. doi:10.2196/jmir.2395;
10.2196/jmir.2395
Schoffman, D. E., Turner-McGrievy, G., Jones, S. J., &
Wilcox, S. (2013). Mobile apps for pediatric obesity prevention and treatment,
healthy eating, and physical activity promotion: Just fun and games?
Translational Behavioral Medicine, 3(3), 320-325.
doi:10.1007/s13142-013-0206-3; 10.1007/s13142-013-0206-3
Nrooney, N. (2012). Mobile to Play a Significant Role in
Healthcare as GSMA Research Predicts mHealth Market to be Worth US$23 billion by
2017. Retrieved from:
http://www.gsma.com/newsroom/mobile-to-play-a-significant-role-in-healthcare-as-gsma-research-predicts-mhealth-market-to-be-worth-us23-billion-by-2017
Mossop, B. (2013). The Challenges of Mobile Health Apps - Inside
Mobile Apps.
Retrieved from:
http://www.insidemobileapps.com/2013/06/17/the-challenges-of-mobile-health-apps/
Ritger, C. (2013). How Mobile Apps Could Transform Rural Health
Care. Retrieved from:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/innovation-works/how-mobile-apps-could-transform-rural-health-care-20131111
Nasser Al Mufarji
Wright State University
The wide spread use of mobile applications has improved the way people work. The
mobile applications are now useful in the health sector for both the physicians
as well as for the patients in developed countries. Physicians use these
applications to gain access to useful information at any time. Patients use these
applications for a healthy lifestyle. These mobile applications are simply software
programs that are used in smartphones or any other mobile communication devices.
They can also be small parts that are attached to the existing mobile devices.
Patients can use medical apps to monitor caloric intake, or to check their blood sugar
(Goyal, 2013). On the other hand, physicians use these medical apps to improve
and facilitate patient care, for diagnosing and treating injuries, or even for
diagnosing cancer and other abnormalities in the human body. These mobile
applications are also referred to as Mobile Health which conveys the same
meaning of using mobile telecommunication devices like mobile phones, tablet
computers and PDAs for health services and information. They can also be used
for collecting clinical data and delivering this information to physicians,
researchers, and patients in real-time. The developing countries have also
started using these mobile devices. For example, patients can receive SMS
messages as reminders of their appointments (Muessig et al., 2013).
Apart from the mobile devices, there are other applications being researched that
will play a major role in the health sector (Ritger, 2013). Though this research is
aimed at developed countries, the developing countries will be able to enjoy this
technology through free and open-source software as the starting point.
Some of these mobile technology applications include patient
monitoring devices, mobile telemedicine devices, and microcomputers.
Data collection software and mobile operating system technology
play major roles in the implementation of mobile medicine as well.
The Use of Mobile Applications
With social media being a widespread method of communication, people are now free to
ask questions and get answers. These tools are suitable for delivering HIV
prevention programs in a cost effective way to young people through the media
that they are already using (Muessig et al., 2013). This technology is
accessible through any smartphone with an internet connection. Since mobile
phones are available in any country in the world, mobile health is increasingly
recognized as an effective way to develop HIV prevention programs. Research has
been done to identify and evaluate mobile phone apps related to prevention and
care of HIV. Though these apps failed to attract users’ attention and positive
views, physicians should continue to work hard with the developers in order to
improve these apps so that the results are accurate.
Diabetes comes in different forms and affects people of different age groups. It is
affecting people every year. The new trend in technology makes it easier for
patients to monitor their diabetes (Goyal, 2013). Mobile health applications
are very helpful for self-management by providing accessible ways for the
patients to monitor their glucose levels by themselves. This technology will
help provide additional information to the physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.
Though there are promising results using these apps, there is still more to be
learned about the accuracy of these gadgets.
Mobile technology is also used by adults to understand their everyday health issues,
including diet and exercise (Muessig et al., 2013). Physicians
use text messaging apps to send messages to patients, asking questions about
their general state of health. Patients reply to the physicians through texting.
If there is any issue to be addressed, then the physician will make an
appointment for the patient
Mobile apps are also used for children with behavior problems. The applications can be
used by parents at home or by teachers in schools. It is a great tool,
especially for those children with Autism (Muessig et al., 2013). An
example of this app, which is also used in hospitals, is My Routine. A photo
which is familiar to the child is uploaded in My Routine. The familiarity of the
photo helps the child to recognize the photo by clicking it. Sound can also be
uploaded to encourage the child while getting treatment in the hospital. The
application is very useful in reducing anxiety for these children. For the
upcoming appointment of the child, parents can upload the picture of the doctor
to familiarize the child with that particular doctor. This application can be
downloaded for free from the internet.
My Chart, which is an electronic healthcare record, is easily accessible with a
smart phone. It provides access to lab results, appointment information, any
medication that a person is currently taking, and immunization history. Other
features include viewing patients’ records and the ability to request
appointments as well as prescription refills any time, night or day. Doctors
can also be asked any non-urgent questions. Parents can also view their
children’s medical information at any time. This application is available with
iPhone and Android smart phones by downloading through the app
store.
The Use of Mobile Applications in Developing Countries
Developing countries face a huge challenge in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Mobile
health technology, specifically the use of mobile phones, provides support in
responding to different types of diseases. Without the apps, it used to take
ages for illnesses to be detected (Jason, 2013).
However, in the present day, diseases can be reported by using a message sent to the physician. Even though these apps are already in use in developed countries, some of these apps
might take time to be available in developing countries on devices such as smart
phones. Companies are looking forward to investing in the technology that will
help the developing countries. Presently, a company called Ringful is developing
these apps for pre-industrialized nations.
Pharmaceutical companies could also benefit from these apps. For example,
these apps allow companies to understand the demand of their products by keeping
a record of what products are used most. This is done by collecting data on how
people in these countries respond to drug treatment. The data is valuable for
developers. The drug companies could then use the mobile phones to ensure that
drugs reach their desired destinations at the appropriate times. Issues arise,
however, if these drugs fall into the wrong hands. The drugs could end up being
counterfeit, stolen, or sold illegally. Regardless, companies expect positive
results and the software can be beneficial to increasing their profits. The data
was gathered via mobile phones and is now used in the health ministries of 20
countries in Africa (Nrooney, 2012).
The application has changed the way people report illnesses.
Mobile phones have changed the lives of people in developing countries. They are widely
used in Africa for bank transactions. People are able to send and receive money
through their mobile devices (Morgan, 2013).
Mobile money is widely used by people to pay their bills, make payments to other
people and receive remittances from relatives abroad.
In 2011, the uprisings across North Africa were made possible by
communicating through mobile devices.
Realizing this, the former president of Egypt exerted pressure on Egypt’s
networks in order to slow down the opposition activity. In the aftermath of the
elections in Kenya, violence was reported via text messages which were then
viewed by the rest of the world.
Since the cost of mobile phones is cheaper than that of PCs, it
is hoped that mobile phones will be used as tools for delivering teaching
materials to students. This will boost the education system in these developing
countries, especially for those children who are not receiving any formal
education.
In South Africa, a physician worried that his patients did not take their
prescribed medicine on time (Dominic, 2013). Elderly people suffering from
memory loss often forget to take their medications and for the drugs to be
effective, these patients have to take their pills at the appropriate times.
Otherwise, the drugs will have little effect. To address this issue, the doctor
set up a messaging system for each of his patients. The system sends messages
daily to the patients, reminding them to take their medications. This automated
system is set up in different languages, including the mother tongue of that
particular area.
In Bangladesh, maternal mortality is the biggest killer. To improve patient awareness, doctors launched a piece of software called Mobile4Health. This system provides information on how to take care of expectant mothers during pregnancies. It also informs people about family planning, breast
feeding, and early signs of possible infant problems.
This software is funded by USAID and is now used in India and South Africa (Dominic, 2013).
eHealth is a system in its pilot study which aims to digitalize health information in Bangladesh.
This use of digital resources will broaden the reach of key messages for health, population,
and nutrition. Netbooks containing the eHealth software have been distributed to community
health workers. The orientation program is ongoing to educate the health workers on how to use the
netbook and the software.
Challenges Facing Mobile Health Applications
Developing mobile health applications is not an easy task. Some challenges that health apps
have yet to overcome include maintaining consumer privacy and security (Mossop, 2013). Furthermore, the development of these apps is costly and there is a lack of research showing improved health outcomes. Moreover, other challenges include:
Physicians and patients need to recognize the role apps can play in healthcare.
Security and privacy must be guaranteed among providers, patients and developers.
There should be an evaluation of apps to determine their appropriate use.
The apps must be integrated with other aspects of patient care.
No matter how effective the apps are, they need to fit into patients' routines and
need to protect their privacy. More evidence of their effectiveness and their
cost has yet to be addressed in the developing countries. Most of the apps are
specific to mobile devices and their operating systems. Thus, different versions
need to be developed to support the different types of mobile phones. This slows
down the development of new apps (Dean, 2009). It is also difficult to develop
mobile apps with different languages that align with the developing countries.
The default language has always been English. For non-English speakers, the
use of these apps is a challenge due to the language barrier. In some areas,
some patients do not understand how to use the smartphones and may wonder
why a physician is using a smartphone while attending to the patients.
The use of electronic medical records has increased dramatically. In hospitals,
physicians and nurses are using the electronic recording of patients' data
(Ritger, 2013). One of the biggest drawbacks is the cost. Not only is the price high, but hospitals
need to convert all their charts into an electronic form. Patients' records
might not be transferred into the electronic form, due to human error.
Therefore, doctors might not be aware of the patients’ situations. Training on
electronic medical records software also adds additional expenses. Hospitals
must pay both trainers and trainees in order to implement these
systems.
The Future of Mobile Health
Research shows that no technology has ever been adopted as fast as the smartphone.
People have adopted these devices faster than automobiles, personal computers, and even
the internet. We are already seeing how technology helps patients monitor their
health and interact with their healthcare providers. With smartphones, users can
connect with their physicians anywhere in the world and get the required
information about their health (Ritger, 2013). Mobile apps are already saving lives. In remote areas, where patient visits to the
clinic can be difficult, physicians can be connected to their patients through
wireless technology. Doctors are then able to spot the condition of the patient
and take necessary action of treatment.
Mobile technology will play an important role in the coming years. The mHealth market
will increase significantly. Though there are challenges facing the healthcare
industry, mobile technology will be helpful in overcoming these challenges.
Mobile devices are predicted to play a greater role in the healthcare industry
for both developing and developed countries. By 2017, mobile technology will be
delivering healthcare to every corner of the globe (Nrooney, 2012).
In order for the mobile apps to be successful, governments and healthcare providers
need to work together with mobile operators to support the trend of mHealth
application (Ritger, 2013). This will include the following key factors:
·
Government support: Adoption of mHealth in developing countries depends on the governments
of these specific countries. They should be willing to take necessary steps in
improving access and affordability of healthcare.
·
Regulatory support: Regulators should be able to support implementation by emphasizing the
growth of mHealth services in developing countries. This can be done by making
the process of certification and standardization hassle free.
·
Healthcare industry acceptance: In additional to government support, key players such as
corporations, researchers, and medical professionals are vital in making the
process effective and efficient.
·
User adoption: Individual persons will help improve the growth and market of mHealth,
simply by using these services. Physicians as well as patients should be able to
make the use of mHealth affordably and easily.
In this changing industry, mobile health care is critical because it is beginning
to define the future of healthcare. Its use has become a global reality. With
the emerging markets, mHealth is moving faster in developing nations. Though
patients believe mHealth would improve their health, some doctors think it has
interfered with their traditional method of treating patients. However, we have
seen how our lives have been transformed in using the apps (Ritger, 2013).
Conclusions
To sum up, we have seen how mobile apps have transformed our lives, from reminding
us about appointments to detection of fetal diseases. The HIV prevention
programs will surely change the lives of people in Africa. If the apps are
efficient, people will be aware of fetal disease and will be more likely to
prevent it. As a result, the number of people dying from the fetal disease would
be reduced dramatically. The advance in technology has made this possible.
Though there are promising results, there is still more to be learned about the
accuracy of these gadgets and their cost.
Adults have been using the gadgets by wearing them like a watch. Whenever
they feel uncomfortable with their health, by pressing a button, the ambulance
will arrive at their home within minutes. This is remarkable. By saving time,
the patient is saved. If a victim of stroke or heart attack is delayed
treatment, his/her life will be in danger. Parents can also use the gadget to
locate their children when they get lost.
The My Routine application has been successful with autistic children by
reducing their anxiety. The drawback in developing countries is that not
everyone can afford the software. Internet connection in rural areas has
remained a challenge. Electricity is another issue to be considered.
People without electricity are less likely to receive the benefits of applications such
as these.
My Chart, which provides access to lab results, appointment information,
medication schedule that patients are taking and immunization history, is a very
helpful tool. Still, patients challenge the privacy and security issues of the
application. This shows that privacy is still a concern for users of these
applications.
Though there are lots of challenges facing medical health applications,
it can be seen how these apps have changed lives. It used to take ages for
illnesses to be detected. In present day, diseases are easily reported by using
a text message sent to the physician.
Mobile apps have changed the way people do business in Africa. They can
now send and receive money through their mobile devices. There is no need to go
to the bank. Internet connection is not required for this service since it is
done through the text messaging system. This is an example of how this
technology already widely used. These applications not only benefit the health
sector, but they have an effect on political issues as well. The uprisings in
North Africa and Kenya are some of the examples. Furthermore, education cost in
Africa will soon be reduced. Mobile apps for delivering teaching materials to
students have been introduced.
Physicians should take extra precaution in using the apps by ensuring
that proper medication is delivered to the patient. Physicians using smartphones
in their practice must ensure that the apps are updated. Any apps recommended to
patients should be carefully vetted for the content. In the end, it is the physician’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their
patients.
References
Goyal, S., & Cafazzo, J. A. (2013). Mobile phone health apps
for diabetes management: Current evidence and future developments.
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