Mobile Apps Research Articles

The Optimal Physical Recovery After Hospitalization (OPRAH) intervention to improve physical activity and protein intake after oncological surgery: a feasibility study.

(1) To assess the feasibility of a blended intervention, combining a smartphone app for self-monitoring of physical activity and protein intake with coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician after hospitalization and (2) to evaluate the associated study procedures. A single-arm feasibility study was performed with adult patients scheduled for curative intent gastrointestinal or lung cancer surgery. Patients were provided with a smartphone app and accelerometer one week before surgery, which they used for six weeks following discharge. In addition, patients received coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician. Feasibility was assessed by evaluating participation and completion rates, user adherence, system usability score (SUS), as well as experiences and safety, based on predefined criteria. In total, 32 patients were included, with participation and completion rates of 69 and 75%, respectively. User adherence to wearing the accelerometer was deemed satisfactory (91%), while user adherence to protein intake was suboptimal (59%). The mean SUS was acceptable (73.5). Patient experiences were predominantly positive, although some patients mentioned a lack of options in the protein registration tool. The intervention is feasible for implementation in a larger study. To improve adherence, modifications are needed regarding self-recording of protein intake. Study procedures require minor modifications.

Smart Shopping Cart

Recently, many attempts have been made to reduce the time required for payment in various shopping environments. In addition, with advancements in artificial intelligence and IoT technologies, it has become easier to create unmanned environments for shopping, reducing the need for human intervention. This paper proposes a smart shopping cart system based on low-cost IoT equipment and deep learning object detection technology. The system consists of a camera for real-time product detection, an ultrasonic sensor as a trigger, a weight sensor to determine if a product enters or exits the shopping cart, and a smartphone app providing a virtual cart interface. The server uses YOLO, an object detection library, for product recognition. Communication occurs via TCP/IP and HTTP, allowing users to monitor items in their cart and make automatic payments. This system aims to offer a high cost-performance ratio for implementing unmanned stores. Key words: Deep Learning ,Real-time Object Detection, YOLO , Internet of Things , Smart Shopping Cart

MAD-Onto: an ontology design for mobile app development

IntroductionMobile app development has rapidly evolved into a crucial aspect of modern technology, driving innovation across various industries and transforming user experiences globally. The dynamic nature of mobile technology requires developers to navigate a complex landscape of platforms, devices, and user requirements. Effective management and sharing of knowledge are essential to address these challenges, ensuring streamlined development processes and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.MethodsTo this end, ontologies have emerged as powerful tools for structuring and standardizing domain-specific knowledge. This paper introduces MAD-onto, a comprehensive ontology designed specifically for the mobile app development domain. The ontology is constructed by identifying key concepts, defining classes and their hierarchies, establishing class properties, and creating instances relevant to mobile app development. To ensure robustness, the ontology is evaluated using a multi-criteria evaluation metric, focusing on consistency, completeness, conciseness, expandability, and sensitiveness. Additionally, SWRL rules are applied to validate and enforce logical constraints within the ontology.ResultsThrough these rigorous evaluation methods, MAD-onto demonstrates its utility in providing a structured framework for the mobile app development lifecycle, facilitating better decision-making, collaboration, and efficiency.DiscussionThe findings highlight the significance of ontology-driven approaches in addressing the complexities of mobile app development and set a foundation for future research and advancements in this field.

One-month outcomes of a culturally tailored alcohol-exposed pregnancy prevention mobile app among urban Native young women: A randomized controlled trial of Native WYSE CHOICES.

The majority of alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) prevention programs for Native women have focused on at-risk adult women residing in rural tribal communities; however, over 70% of the Native population resides in urban areas. Moreover, Native young women universally-regardless of risk status-may benefit from culturally tailored resources. We hypothesized that urban Native young women who engaged with Native WYSE CHOICES (NWC), a culturally tailored AEP prevention intervention delivered by mobile phone app, would report reduced risk of AEP at the 1-month follow-up compared to those who engaged with a comparison condition. From August 2021 to January 2023, we recruited 439 urban Native young women (ages 16-20) nationally to a randomized controlled trial administered fully virtually including most recruitment, data collection and intervention engagement. Participants were randomly assigned to the NWC app or an alternative app. We used linear and logistic regression analyses to predict scores on 1-month outcome variables by study arm assignment. Results of regression analyses predicting scores on 1-month outcomes by study arm showed trending intervention effects on measures of AEP knowledge (p = 0.06), alcohol use with sexual activity (p = 0.10), and an AEP risk index (p = 0.12). At 1-month follow-up, intervention group participants reported greater AEP knowledge, lower likelihood of alcohol-involved sexual activity in the past month, and lower scores on an AEP risk index compared to the comparison group. The NWC app produced trending changes in key areas of knowledge and behavior that may result in reduced AEP risk among urban Native young women. These findings suggest that the NWC app holds promise for addressing AEP in Native populations. Small changes in these areas may result in lifelong changes in the current generation that impact the health and wellbeing of generations to come.

Quantum secure patient login credential system using blockchain for electronic health record sharing framework

Nowadays, most of the medical records are maintained in a digital format known as Electronic Health Records Sharing (EHRS) framework. Patients have individual login credentials for accessing these medical records. In the BCT, the information about the owner of the block and its dependency over other blocks is maintained in itself. Moreover, each block is linked with its nearby blocks, leading to a network controlled by patients responsible for storing and sharing the information. In healthcare, BCT can help with mobile health apps, monitoring equipment, sharing and keeping of clinical trial data, electronic medical records, and insurance information storage. This study proposes a secure Patient Login Credential System (PLCS) for EHRS. The proposed scheme has been included for block encryption with the symmetric and asymmetric cryptography algorithms with respect to the hospital server and patients. Additionally, the Quantum Secure Trust Protocol (QSTP) is integrated to enhance trust and security between the patient-side and hospital-side, maintaining data integrity and confidentiality. Similarly, the Tune Swarm Optimization (TSO) algorithm is utilized to optimize performance metrics. The security analysis for the proposed scheme has been evaluated with basic security assumptions for information systems like, availability, access control, maintaining forward secrecy, and maintaining data integrity. The proposed scheme demonstrated enhanced security and performance, with IDEA achieving encryption in 58 ms and decryption in 278 ms for a 512-bit block, offering the best performance in terms of encryption speed.

Using a mobile app comprising neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music to treat PTSD symptoms: A qualitative analysis.

There is a significant need for an effective and convenient symptom management and healing program for people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; however, research on this topic is lacking. This study explored the experiences of individuals with PTSD who used a mobile traumatic stress management app with neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music to promote their psychological recovery. This study used a qualitative research method to explore the experiences of neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music using a mobile traumatic stress management app to promote the psychological recovery of people experiencing chronic traumatic stress. The research question was "What is the experience of neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music using the mobile traumatic stress management app?" The thematic content analysis of in-depth interviews held with nine participants derived 26 codes, eight sub-categories, three categories, and one theme ("Holding hope for healing from agony of mind and body"). Neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music using a mobile app helped people with PTSD symptoms to truly understand the symptoms caused by traumatic stress. Continued use of this program provides the participants with physical and psychological stability; it instills them with faith and hope.

Development of the Low Back Pain Self-Management App Review Tool (LBP-SMART) for consumers to assess the quality, behaviour change and self-management potential of LBP smartphone apps

Purpose Low back pain (LBP) poses global health management and economic challenges. Self-management of LBP is critical, and smartphone apps have great potential to facilitate LBP self-management. This study aimed to co-design a LBP Self-Management App Review Tool (LBP-SMART) for consumers to assess the quality, behaviour change and self-management potential of LBP self-management apps for LBP rehabilitation. Methods Two-phase prospective cross-sectional design. Consumers and health professionals participated in four online co-design workshops, underpinned by the Co-KT framework, to develop a consumer-level assessment tool for LBP self-management smartphone apps. User evaluation of the tool (LBP-SMART) was then undertaken. Results Four stakeholders (consumers n = 2, health professionals n = 2) with the guidance of researchers (n = 3) participated in the workshops. The LBP-SMART was developed, consisting of seven categories: 1)Safety; 2)Download process; 3)Look, function and feel; 4)Customisation; 5)Goals and self-monitoring; 6)Enabling sharing and 7)Additional features. Five additional participants undertook user evaluation. All reported that the tool was easy to use/understand, and the order/sequencing was appropriate. The LBP-SMART has content validity based on evidence, stakeholder and expert views. Conclusion The LBP-SMART guides consumers and health professionals on appropriate app choice with quality, and self-management and behaviour change potential features that may improve LBP rehabilitation outcomes.

Developing a Mobile App to Prevent Suicide Based on a Software Development Life Cycle: Application of Ecological Momentary Assessment and Interventions.

To improve mental health, diverse mobile applications (apps) have been developed to target those who actively use smartphones and in-phone apps. In this vein, this study developed a mobile app, eRAPPORT, to prevent suicide using ecological momentary assessment and intervention. A brief literature review and mobile app market search were conducted to determine the app's content and modality. The design and contents of eRAPPORT were developed through consulting with contextual and methodological experts for end-users' need assessment and technician review. For implementation, an experienced mobile app developer collaborated with the research team to create the app, which includes a safety plan, a feature to track suicidal risk and mental health status, evidence-based information from international and national authorised organisations, an outreach service with online/offline counselling and pop-ups displaying emergency contacts. Twenty-five general adults participated in the feasibility study. After using eRAPPORT for a month, they completed a self-reported questionnaire, followed by an in-depth interview of functionality, acceptability and safety. Both quantitative and qualitative evaluations assured the moderate level of usability and acceptability due to some features that should be improved before applying those with a high risk of suicide. No critical adverse event was reported. Thus, this eRAPPORT feasibility study provides fundamental information to describe the patient-centred processes on how to develop a mobile app for suicide prevention. Further study will be conducted to test the app's effectiveness and determine the application in clinical practice for monitoring and preventing suicide risk by collecting real-time and longitudinal data.

Digital dietary interventions for healthy adolescents: A systematic review of behavior change techniques, engagement strategies, and adherence.

Adolescence is a crucial phase for developing healthy eating habits with lifelong health implications. Digital interventions, such as smartphone apps and web platforms, have emerged as promising strategies to promote healthy eating habits among adolescents by using behavior change techniques (BCTs). This study aims to systematically review internet-based dietary interventions targeting adolescents, focusing on the analysis of BCTs employed, their delivery modes, and their impact on adolescents' adherence and engagement. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used up to July 2024. Eligible studies included randomized clinical trials involving adolescents aged 12 to 18. The interventions analyzed involved smartphone apps and web platforms promoting changes in eating habits, with results focusing on adherence and techniques used. The initial search identified 5399 articles, of which 16 studies were included in the final analysis. The studies involved a total of 31,971 participants (range: 29-7890), with 40.29% being female (n=12,881), aged 12-18 years. The duration of interventions ranged from two weeks up to 12 months, with follow-ups of up to 24 months. Interventions that utilized BCTs such as goal setting (n=14), feedback on behavior (n=14), social support (n=14), prompts/cues (n=13), and self-monitoring (n=12), were the most effective in promoting adherence and engagement. Digital dietary interventions that incorporated personalized feedback (n=9) and gamification (n=1) showed adherence rates between 63% and 85.5%, with notable improvements in dietary habits, such as increased fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. However, the intervention using gamification involved only 36 participants, and its effects require further investigation due to the limited sample size. Digital interventions show potential for promoting healthy dietary behaviors among adolescents, yet mixed outcomes underscore the challenges of maintaining adherence and long-term engagement. Techniques such as self-monitoring, goal setting, and social support can enhance engagement and effectiveness, particularly when combined with gamified features. The trial protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024564261).

Dissociative episodes and concurrent heart rate in patients with PTSD - An ecological momentary assessment.

Dissociative symptoms are a frequent complication in posttraumatic stress disorders affecting about a third of all PTSD patients. While theoretical models predict a physiological hypoarousal during posttraumatic dissociations, empirical evidence is lacking. We addressed this by studying spontaneously occurring dissociative symptoms and related heart rate changes in an ecological momentary assessment. Therefore, we continuously measured heart rate for five to ten days with mobile ECG in 47 female inpatients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and dissociative symptoms. During this observation period, patients tracked each dissociative event on a smartphone app and reported on symptom characteristics. Patients reported a total of 164 dissociative events. Those typically lasted <30 min and involved co-occuring depersonalization and derealization of moderate to severe intensity. Tracked symptoms correlated positively with some conventional self-reports for depersonalization and derealization. Heart rate during dissociative symptoms varied greatly between and within individuals and was on average not different from baseline assessment. There was also no significant relation between dissociation intensity and heart rate change. These results challenge the theory of reactive hypoarousal during chronic dissociation and support the view that physiological adaptation modifies in the course of posttraumatic chronification. They also highlight the individual variability of dissociative symptoms and underscore the necessity of detailed assessment for targeted therapeutic approaches.

The Views of Healthcare Professionals on iFall, a Smartphone Application for Falls Reporting in Parkinson's Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Accurate falls reporting is important in the management of Parkinson's disease. One way in which to improve accuracy is by providing a smartphone app to log fall events. This qualitative study sought to gain insights from healthcare professionals based in the United Kingdom on a novel smartphone application co-developed by people with Parkinson's (PwP) disease for falls reporting. Research Methods: A purposive sample of n=11 healthcare professionals with expertise in Parkinson's were recruited to take part in a focus group to explore their views on the smartphone app. Framework analysis was utilised to interpret the data. Results: Participants discussed the applications role in clinical practice, research, and provided recommendations for future improvements. Within the overarching theme of implementation of iFall in clinical and research practice, three subthemes emerged: (1) applicability to clinical practice, (2) the future of iFall in research and (3) future developments. The application was viewed positively, exhibiting potential to address important contemporary issues within falls reporting and research, whilst being clear, simple and easy to use. Implementation challenges of the application, such as IT integration were highlighted, while enhancements such as voice recognition were suggested. Conclusions: Incorporating suggestions from healthcare professionals and piloting of the application with PwP will increase the likelihood of successful implementation of the iFall app into clinical practice and research.

A Systematic Literature Review of Multimedia Technology-Based Interventions for Self-Management in T1D Children

Diabetes self-management (DSM) is crucial for children with diabetes, especially those aged 3–7 years. With the increasing number of children with diabetes and the trend toward younger children, there is growing interest in multimedia technology-based interventions (MTBIs) to help them achieve DSM. However, T1D children face unique challenges in DSM due to their need to complete seven target behaviors: learning diabetes basics, monitoring blood glucose levels, adhering to insulin therapy, problem-solving, dietary modifications, physical activity, and psychological aspects. Over the past 20 years, MTBIs have become powerful tools to support DSM, using interactive content, digital platforms, mobile apps, and virtual coaching. This systematic literature review aims to analyze the classification and trends in MTBIs' use in self-management for T1D children, explore key challenges, and suggest future directions for advancing these technologies. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the application of multimedia technologies for interventions in self-management for T1D children and offers research foundation and practical guidance for the later application of multimedia technologies in this area.

Pathways to usage intention of mobile health apps among hypertensive patients: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.

Background: The efficacy of mHealth apps in managing hypertension has been proven; however, low usage intention remains a significant challenge, warranting an in-depth exploration of the influencing factors. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing hypertensive new users' intention to use mobile health applications through a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was employed to investigate the combinations of various determinants, including technology acceptance, adoption factors, compliance behavior initiation factors, and time motivation factors for decision making. Results: A total of 100 middle-aged and elderly hypertensive individuals participated in the survey, with 98 responses included in the final statistical analysis. The analysis identified four distinct configurations that contribute to high usage intentions, with solution consistency and coverage values of 0.93 and 0.36, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that intervention strategies should account for the various pathways leading to usage intentions.

KawanSurya: an Android-based mobile app for assessing the techno-economic potential of rooftop photovoltaic

KawanSurya: an Android-based mobile app for assessing the techno-economic potential of rooftop photovoltaic

Assessing intention to use mobile phone-based self-management support among adults with type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

The use of mobile phone technology for chronic illness self-management is growing, and it may help people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Innovative methods are needed to improve patient involvement and disease management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the high incidence of T2DM. The purpose of this study was to explore how the T2DM patients in KSA utilizes their mobile phones for self-management. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2025 among T2DM patients who were attending endocrinologists for their diabetes management in the Northern Border region (Rafha and Arar) and the Central region (Riyadh) in KSA using a validated questionnaire. This study included a total of 267 participants with T2DM. Nearly all participants (99.3%) possess a cellphone, with 94.8% having daily internet access. The majority of the patients reported to have an intention to use mobile phones and the internet for managing diabetes, with 78.3% for dietary planning, 79.4% for physical activity planning, and 78.7% for text messages as reminders. Factors such as female (p = 0.008), younger age (p = 0.001), and duration of diabetes (p = <0.001) were significantly associated with the intention to use mobile apps for managing their diabetes. This study demonstrates a significantly higher inclination of participants toward mobile phone technology for diabetes self-management vs. face-to-face consultations. These findings highlight the promising role of mobile phone technology for enhancing diabetes self-management among T2DM patients, thus highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Interest, uptake, and feasibility trial of a real-life digital health intervention to improve lifestyle in Brazil.

Promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors is essential for preventing and managing chronic and mental health conditions. This study aims to present a digital health platform accessible via PC or smartphone, VIVA!, designed to foster lifestyle change among the Brazilian population. It evaluates interest, uptake, acceptability, usability, adherence, and retention over 12 weeks. A fully online feasibility trial was conducted from April to December 2023. Participants were adults who lived in Rio de Janeiro and reported using the Brazilian Public Health System. Interest in VIVA! and uptake were assessed via recruitment metrics. Acceptability and usability were measured using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Adherence was calculated as the percentage of completed challenges over 12 weeks, and retention was tracked at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Of 3812 individuals reached, 27.2% expressed interest in the app, with an uptake rate of 65.4%. A total of 401 participants were enrolled, predominantly women (73.3%) with higher education (61.6%). MARS acceptability scores were 2.9 for quality and 3.5 for specificity. Usability scores averaged around 3, with aesthetics rated the highest. Retention at 12 weeks was 4.5%, and the average adherence rate was 11.2%. The VIVA! attracted women and highly-educated individuals, but its effectiveness was constrained by high attrition. These findings highlight key challenges in DHI implementation, including the need for robust outreach, iterative improvements, and strategies to sustain engagement. Addressing digital access, literacy inequities, and strengthening regulations are critical for the future success and equity of DHIs in public health systems. The trial was registered at the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos -REBEC)-number RBR-2ssyb6q.

Mobile Application Intervention Effectiveness in Improving Hypertensive Patients Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Hypertension and its complications are massive global health issues. Major limitations in hypertensive patients’ treatment include suboptimal blood pressure control and nonadherence to medication. The popularity of telemedicine has risen in recent years. Mobile phone applications intervention in particular, provides features including medication-taking, refilling reminders, and biometric results tracker resulting in better health outcomes and improved medication adherence. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of mobile application in improving adherence in hypertensive patients. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched with filters applied for studies published between 2013 and 2023 and content published in English with the keywords; telemedicine, mobile apps, medication adherence, and hypertension. These keywords were joined using Boolean operators for an effective search. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Statement was followed for this systematic review. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The data was extracted by the authors and validated by another for accuracy and completeness. Results: Twelve studies ranging from moderate to high quality were included in this review. A total of 10 studies showed a statistically significant improvement (p &lt; 0.001) in medication adherence with mobile apps intervention. The combined apps features from the mobile apps empower patients to be more adherent, involved and informed about their treatment progress. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients’ medication adherence improved with mobile apps intervention. However, the heterogeneity of adherence measurement methods and apps functionality in the included studies calls for further studies to determine the effectiveness of specific mobile apps feature as well as the standardisation of the adherence measurement method used.

Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hispanic adults receive less advice to quit smoking and use fewer evidence-based smoking cessation treatments compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Digital smoking cessation interventions, such as those delivered via smartphone apps, provide a feasible and within-reach treatment option for Hispanic adults who smoke and want to quit smoking. While the combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions are considered best practices for smoking cessation, its efficacy among Hispanic adults, especially alongside smartphone app-based interventions, is uncertain. This secondary analysis used data from a randomized controlled trial that compared the efficacy of 2 smoking cessation apps, iCanQuit (based on acceptance and commitment therapy) and QuitGuide (following US clinical practice guidelines), to explore the association between pharmacotherapy use and smoking cessation outcomes among the subsample of 173 Hispanic participants who reported on pharmacotherapy use. Given the randomized design, we first tested the potential interaction of pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm on 12-month cigarette smoking abstinence. We then examined whether the use of any pharmacotherapy (ie, nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], varenicline, or bupropion) and NRT alone augmented each app-based intervention efficacy. Participants reported using pharmacotherapy on their own during the 3-month follow-up and cigarette smoking abstinence at the 12-month follow-up via web-based surveys. These data were used (1) to test the interaction effect of using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation and intervention arm (iCanQuit vs QuitGuide) on smoking cessation at 12 months and (2) to test whether the use of pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation augmented the efficacy of each intervention arm to help participants successfully quit smoking. The subsample of Hispanic participants was recruited from 30 US states. They were on average 34.5 (SD 9.3) years of age, 50.9% (88/173) were female, and 56.1% (97/173) reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes daily. Approximately 22% (38/173) of participants reported using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation at the 3-month follow-up, including NRT, varenicline, or bupropion, with no difference between intervention arms. There was an interaction between pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm that marginally influenced 12-month quit rates at 12 months (P for interaction=.053). In the iCanQuit arm, 12-month missing-as-smoking quit rates were 43.8% (7/16) for pharmacotherapy users versus 28.8% (19/16) for nonusers (odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 0.66-7.48; P=.20). In the QuitGuide arm, quit rates were 9.1% (2/22) for pharmacotherapy users versus 21.7% (15/69) for nonusers (odds ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.07-1.72; P=.20). Results were similar for the use of NRT only. Combining pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation with a smartphone app-based behavioral intervention that teaches acceptance of cravings to smoke (iCanQuit) shows promise in improving quit rates among Hispanic adults. However, this combined approach was not effective with the US clinical guideline-based app (QuitGuide). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02724462; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02724462. RR2-10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4055.

Home blood pressure monitoring and mobile health application practices among pregnant persons with and at risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

To examine training in and current home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) practices in pregnancies with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) or risk factors for HDP; and to explore interest in using mHealth applications for communicating with healthcare providers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on HBPM practices/training and interest in using mobile health (mHealth) applications among pregnant persons at an academic medical center. The main outcomes measured were the proportion of participants who received training for HBPM, and the proportion interested in using mHealth applications for communication with providers related to managing HDP. Of the 103 participants, 41 (39.8%) used HBPM. Of those who did HBPM, 36.6% received training from their healthcare providers. Training more often included instructions on positioning and how to perform HBPM, and rarely included advice on validated HBPM devices. Nearly all participants (98.1%) owned a smartphone, and 19.4% had a smartwatch. A significant majority expressed interest in using a secure mobile app for communication with providers (78.6%), and 88.3% were interested in wearing a smartwatch for remote monitoring. There were no significant differences in interest levels based on race, age, residence, or education, while there was higher interest (100% vs. 67%) in mobile apps for communication among those with HDP vs. risk factors for HDP. Despite a low level of training for HBPM, there was high interest in using mHealth applications. Leveraging mHealth technology could help overcome the challenges of providing training for HBPM.

Mobile application-based monitoring in post-breast reconstruction surgery: current trends and future directions

Mobile apps are frequently utilized in various medical fields for postoperative care, yet there is limited research concerning their application among breast reconstruction patients. This paper examines the development of mobile apps for postoperative care and discusses key considerations for their design and implementation in the context of breast reconstruction patients. Mobile apps provide a holistic approach to recovery, featuring personalized recovery plans, wound monitoring, pain tracking, medication management, virtual consultations, and emotional support. These functionalities improve patient outcomes, facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, and enhance engagement with the recovery process. Advanced digital healthcare technologies are revolutionizing patient care, particularly in home settings, by improving monitoring capabilities and telemedicine, thus increasing access and efficiency. For mobile apps to be successfully adopted in postoperative care, it is crucial to address regulatory, financial, and engagement challenges to ensure they deliver sustained value to both patients and healthcare providers. Future research should aim to extend these solutions to plastic surgery and other medical disciplines to improve recovery outcomes for a broad range of patient populations.