Enabling prescription-based health apps

Abstract

We describe an innovative framework for prescription of personalised health apps by integrating Personal Health Records (PHR) with disease-specific mobile applications for managing medical conditions and the communication with clinical professionals. The prescribed apps record multiple variables including medical history enriched with innovative features such as integration with medical monitoring devices and wellbeing trackers to provide patients and clinicians with a personalised support on disease management. Our framework is based on an existing PHR ecosystem called TreC, uniquely positioned between healthcare provider and the patients, which is being used by over 70.000 patients in Trentino region in Northern Italy. We also describe three important aspects of health app prescription and how medical information is automatically encoded through the TreC framework and is prescribed as a personalised app, ready to be installed in the patients' smartphone.

Evaluation of mHealth Applications Related to Cardiovascular Diseases: a Systematic Review

“…Osmani et al, ( 36 ) describe an innovative framework for prescription of personalized health apps by integrating Personal Health Records (PHR) with disease-specific mobile applications for managing medical conditions and the communication with clinical professionals.…”

The Evolution of Personalized Healthcare and the Pivotal Role of European Regions in its Implementation

“…The focus of PHC moves from care to prevention and health-enabling progress in life expectancy, reducing health inequalities and funding of new treatments otherwise eclipsed by the increasing costs of avoidable illnesses [31]. Regarding the challenges PHC tackles, there is public trust: ensure that citizens are confident about sharing their data providing access not only to health records but also to health apps [32] and information services to support citizens' healthy choices; facilitate healthcare professionals' access to all the data (standardized, interoperable and processed into actionable knowledge) including the ones that have not been traditionally considered health information (apps and personal trackers); support healthcare professionals to make the best use of data and technology, enhancing decision-making processes.…”

GPs’ perspectives on eHealth use in the Czech Republic: a cross-sectional mixed-design survey study

“…This is encouraging given the rising emphasis on behavioural management as part of both primary and secondary prevention efforts, aligning with the trend in mHealth usage for monitoring (telemedicine) and behaviour modification through prescription-based health mobile apps. 32 Still, it would be of importance (as part of educational efforts, for example) to address the somewhat ageist views observed among the GPs in terms of older adults and ICT; that is, GPs reported lower use of ICT by older adults and expressed, in the qualitative analysis, that older patients would not be interested in, willing to use, or capable of using technology in their interactions with GPs or as part of primary care. Although this may be true for some older adults, especially in older ages (above 75), 33 there is evidence that older adults are interested in engaging with new technology if it is perceived as useful.…”

“…From a quality of care perspective, however, mHealth tools can be used effectively to enhance the quality of personal interactions with patients. 32 Thus, reframing perceptions of barriers into opportunities for continuous quality improvement of care and patient satisfaction should be an integral part of intervention efforts to increase eHealth or mHealth usage in clinical care. 35 Notably, another type of barrier cited was related to the concerns regarding security of the data obtained through mHealth tools.…”