Improving Global Health With Smartphone Technology: A Decade in Review of mHealth Initiatives

摘要

The widespread use of smartphones makes them a popular platform for healthcare applications. This article reveals the global trends and overarching goals of mHealth initiatives that seek to enhance healthcare quality, increase access to health services, and improve global health communication. Three main themes emerged from this study: a) the impact of mHealth on international public health, b) overcoming mhealth barriers, and c) emerging mHealth technologies. The costs of developing mHealth apps and handling related data security concerns are the key barriers which need to be addressed to successfully implement global mHealth campaigns. Future directions of mHealth research are discussed, including the integration of new technologies, development of innovative healthcare systems, and overall improvement of global healthcare. Mobile health, widely known as mHealth, encompasses a diverse range of mobile technologies with goals of enhancing health care quality, improving patient outcomes, increasing accessibility of health services, and further strengthening the field of health communication (Chang et al., 2012; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016; World Health Organization, 2011). mHealth has been originally defined as the "emerging mobile communications and network technologies for healthcare systems" (Istepanian, Laxminarayan, & Pattichis, 2007, p. 3). It employs mobile internet access, software applications (apps), global positioning systems (GPS), text messaging, and Bluetooth for the connection of multiple devices (Speciale & Fretysis, 2013). The existing and emerging technology of mHealth is used by patients, health providers, public health personnel, and researchers across the globe.