Are mobile health apps really useful?
The market for applications on mobiles and tablets, nowadays, in France, is in full expansion. It is indeed now possible to control your home remotely (turn off the light, lock the doors, etc.) or even operate many connected objects.
But what about the health sector ? Here again, many applications exist, or are in the process of being created. But are these really useful? Are they of real benefit to patients?
Prevention “2.0” in health
It is on this subject that the 2nd morning of Doctors 2.0 and You developed, on November 19, 2014, a site devoted to new technologies (1) . This morning was devoted to prevention 2.0 in health and medicine. Many speakers were present, from various backgrounds, and very involved in e-health. They mentioned the good progress of these applications, whether it is a pedometer, a blood pressure monitor or even the reminder of medication intake. But it was nevertheless recalled that these applications will never replace the advice of a doctor. Unlike Anglo-Saxon countries, France, and especially the medical profession , is still very mixed on these practices.
However, during this morning, several applications in the process of being created were presented, and some still have some interest. Take the example of the Cardiosens application . This is easy to use. You have to fill out a questionnaire. The answers will give rise to a report on the assessment of our level of cardiovascular risk.
Following this assessment, a personalized follow-up is created, and many advices and adapted programs are proposed in order to improve our health. This application is based on simplicity and above all security. This is why the data collected and the advice offered can be printed when desired in order to be able to show it to our doctor.
What is the long-term effectiveness?
Despite the progress of innovation, and the many serious applications present on the market, it is nevertheless recalled that the user, in general, quickly tires of the installed applications, all categories combined.
Indeed, Doctor MARCHAND Guillaume, president and co-founder of DMD santé and creator of the health evaluation site dmdpost.com (2) recalls that less than 50% of users continue to use a connected object 6 months after purchase . , 42% of applications are uninstalled directly after the 1st launch, thus indicating the irrelevance of the application.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.