Utilizing Mobile Health: A Narrative Review of Dermatology Health Applications

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate 21 current dermatological health mobile device applications.

Background: Education plays a vital role in patients’ health care, especially those in rural areas. Smartphone apps provide accessible education to patients, allowing patients to track their condition over time. Mobile health apps can be a resource for managing and tracking dermatological health, as well as reducing education and location barriers for patients.

Methods: Twenty-one apps were chosen for our analysis. Apps were divided into categories related to dermatological health; including patient education, skin-care regimens, and tracking chronic condition progression. Apps were assessed by cost, languages offered, educational content, diagnostic/special features, country based in, country offered in, advertisements, and incentives.

Results: Sixty-five percent of the apps are only available in English, 18% offer 2-3 languages, and 17% offer 4+ languages, although the apps are available in multiple countries. 66.66% of the apps offer an educational component, and 40% of the educational apps are free. Many had additional or add-on purchases.

Conclusion: Utilizing mobile applications is a promising and innovative avenue for patient education. However, there is a wide discrepancy in the number of languages offered and cost, placing an emphasis on creating apps available in multiple languages and at a low price.

References

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  2. Prabhu AV, Gupta R, Kim C, Kashkoush A, Hansberry DR, Agarwal N, Koch E. Patient Education Materials in Dermatology: Addressing the Health Literacy Needs of Patients. JAMA Dermatol. 2016 Aug 1;152(8):946-7. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.1135. PMID: 27191054.
  3. Ji-Xu A, Artounian K, Altman EM. Dermatology education resources on sun safety and skin cancer targeted at Spanish-speaking patients: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023 Jul;315(5):1083-1088. doi: 10.1007/s00403-022-02465-6. Epub 2022 Nov 30. PMID: 36449072.


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Utilizing Mobile Health: A Narrative Review of Dermatology Health Applications by Annabelle Huntsman, Justin Lyon, Adriene Pavek & Tammy Stump, PhD