The role of interdisciplinary research team in the impact of health apps in health and computer science publications: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral studies have estimated the potential economic and social impact of the mHealth development. Considering the latest study by Institute for Healthcare Informatics, more than 165.000 apps of health and medicine are offered including all the stores from different platforms. Thus, the global mHealth market was an estimated $10.5 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow 33.5 percent annually between 2015 and 2020s. In fact, apps of Health have become the third-fastest growing category, only after games and utilities.MethodsThis study aims to identify, study and evaluate the role of interdisciplinary research teams in the development of articles and applications in the field of mHealth. It also aims to evaluate the impact that the development of mHealth has had on the health and computer science field, through the study of publications in specific databases for each area which have been published until nowadays.ResultsInterdisciplinary nature is strongly connected to the scientific quality of the journal in which the work is published. This way, there are significant differences in those works that are made up by an interdisciplinary research team because of they achieve to publish in journals with higher quartiles. There are already studies that warn of methodological deficits in some studies in mHealth, low accuracy and no reproducibility. Studies of low precision and poor reproducibility, coupled with the low evidence, provide low degrees of recommendation of the interventions targeted and therefore low applicability.ConclusionsFrom the evidence of this study, working in interdisciplinary groups from different areas greatly enhances the quality of research work as well as the quality of the publications derived from its results.

Introduction to the New Version of PWS Application and It's Use in Medical Practice

“…In fact, health apps, which have a share of about 3 percent of all active apps in Apple app stores 3) , have become the third-fastest growing category after games and utilities 2) . According to reports, one third of health apps were designed for more specific areas, such as professionals or people affected by a specific disease 1,2) . However, more than 50% of the available apps received less than 500 downloads, and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics attribute this situation to the poor quality of many of them, the lack of guidance on the usefulness of apps, and a low level of support from health professionals 1,2) .…”

“…According to reports, one third of health apps were designed for more specific areas, such as professionals or people affected by a specific disease 1,2) . However, more than 50% of the available apps received less than 500 downloads, and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics attribute this situation to the poor quality of many of them, the lack of guidance on the usefulness of apps, and a low level of support from health professionals 1,2) . Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by neonatal hypotonia, poor sucking in infancy, early-onset hyperphagia, and the development of morbid obesity in children, and GH therapy is essential for improving muscle strength and physical function, normalizing height, increasing lean body mass and mobility, and decreasing fat mass 4) .…”

“…Mobile applications (apps) are increasingly used in managing various daily health tasks. According to a recent report by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, more than 165,000 health-related apps are offered on all the stores of different platforms 1,2) . In fact, health apps, which have a share of about 3 percent of all active apps in Apple app stores 3) , have become the third-fastest growing category after games and utilities 2) .…”

“…According to a recent report by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, more than 165,000 health-related apps are offered on all the stores of different platforms 1,2) . In fact, health apps, which have a share of about 3 percent of all active apps in Apple app stores 3) , have become the third-fastest growing category after games and utilities 2) . According to reports, one third of health apps were designed for more specific areas, such as professionals or people affected by a specific disease 1,2) .…”

“…In fact, health apps, which have a share of about 3 percent of all active apps in Apple app stores 3) , have become the third-fastest growing category after games and utilities 2) . According to reports, one third of health apps were designed for more specific areas, such as professionals or people affected by a specific disease 1,2) .…”