Abstract
Healthcare delivery has changed dramatically with the emergence and maturation of telehealth and related technology-enabled platforms to connect patients and providers. Mobile technologies are readily on the general healthcare marketplace. With over 3.4 billion smartphone and tablet users around the world, it is estimated that at least 50% have downloaded mobile healthcare apps. Evidence suggests some apps have a positive impact on clinical workflow and patient outcomes, including those in behavioral health. A large number of health apps incorporate human factors methods in their design, development, and evaluation, but barriers and challenges exist so actual engagement is at best variable and oftentimes low. If an app is too difficult, clumsy, or annoying to use, it really does not matter if it does what one wants at the price one wants if no one uses it. Close attention to human factors throughout the app development and implementation cycle will help ensure that the majority of users will benefit from and experience high satisfaction with a given app. The proliferation of apps, when regulated or not, provides users with a wide array of options, so what does not work for one may work for another. Carefully defining an apps’ purpose (task) and knowing the user population will go a long way towards helping those developing and those selecting an app for effective and efficient use in behavioral health scenarios.
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Krupinski, E.A. m-Health, Smartphones, and Apps for Behavioral Health: Human Factors for All Users. J. technol. behav. sci. 4, 124–129 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-019-00092-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-019-00092-z