Abstract
BackgroundThe broad availability of smartphones and the number of health apps in app stores have risen in recent years. Health apps have benefits for individuals (eg, the ability to monitor one’s health) as well as for researchers (eg, the ability to collect data in population-based, clinical, and observational studies). Although the number of health apps on the global app market is huge and the associated potential seems to be great, app-based questionnaires for collecting patient-related data have not played an important role in epidemiological studies so far.ObjectiveThis study aims to provide an overview of studies that have collected patient data using an app-based approach, with a particular focus on longitudinal studies. This literature review describes the current extent to which smartphones have been used for collecting (patient) data for research purposes, and the potential benefits and challenges associated with this approach.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of studies that used data collection via apps. PubMed was used to identify studies describing the use of smartphone app questionnaires for collecting data over time. Overall, 17 articles were included in the summary.ResultsBased on the results of this scoping review, there are only a few studies that integrate smartphone apps into data-collection approaches. Studies dealing with the collection of health-related data via smartphone apps have mainly been developed with regard to psychosomatic, neurodegenerative, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as malign neoplasm. Among the identified studies, the duration of data collection ranged from 4 weeks to 12 months, and the participants’ mean ages ranged from 7 to 69 years. Potential can be seen for real-time information transfer, fast data synchronization (which saves time and increases effectivity), and the possibility of tracking responses longitudinally. Furthermore, smartphone-based data-collection techniques might prevent biases, such as reminder bias or mistakes occurring during manual data transfers. In chronic diseases, real-time communication with physicians and early detection of symptoms enables rapid modifications in disease management.ConclusionsThe results indicate that using mobile technologies can help to overcome challenges linked with data collection in epidemiological research. However, further feasibility studies need to be conducted in the near future to test the applicability and acceptance of these mobile apps for epidemiological research in various subpopulations.
Highlights
MethodsWorldwide, there were 2.39 billion smartphone users in 2017, and this number is predicted to exceed three billion by 2021 [1]
In 2015 alone, there were more than 100,000 new health apps published in relevant app stores, with approximately three billion downloads of apps related to health, fitness, and medicine [2]
To guide the scoping review, we focused on the following 4 overarching research questions: 1) which types of studies have been conducted to date, 2) over what period of time has data been collected within these studies, 3) which specific target groups have been included in the studies, and 4) what potential benefits and challenges to app-based data collection are described in the studies?
Summary
MethodsWorldwide, there were 2.39 billion smartphone users in 2017, and this number is predicted to exceed three billion by 2021 [1]. Public health, and health services research, there are approaches in the field of cognitive science that have detected the potential for data collection via smartphone apps [8]. Health apps have benefits for individuals (eg, the ability to monitor one’s health) as well as for researchers (eg, the ability to collect data in population-based, clinical, and observational studies). The number of health apps on the global app market is huge and the associated potential seems to be great, app-based questionnaires for collecting patient-related data have not played an important role in epidemiological studies so far. PubMed was used to identify studies describing the use of smartphone app questionnaires for collecting data over time. Results: Based on the results of this scoping review, there are only a few studies that integrate smartphone apps into data-collection approaches. Further feasibility studies need to be conducted in the near future to test the applicability and acceptance of these mobile apps for epidemiological research in various subpopulations
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