Leveraging mHealth Technologies for Public Health.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: JMIR Publications Country of Publication: Canada NLM ID: 101669345 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2369-2960 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 23692960 NLM ISO Abbreviation: JMIR Public Health Surveill Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Toronto : JMIR Publications, [2015]-
    • Subject Terms:
      Public Health*/methods ; Public Health*/statistics & numerical data ; Public Health*/trends ; Telemedicine*/statistics & numerical data ; Telemedicine*/trends; Humans ; Canada ; Digital Health/statistics & numerical data ; Digital Health/trends
    • Abstract:
      Traditional public health surveillance efforts are generally based on self-reported data. Although well validated, these methods may nevertheless be subjected to limitations such as biases, delays, and costs or logistical challenges. An alternative is the use of smart technologies (eg, smartphones and smartwatches) to complement self-report indicators. Having embedded sensors that provide zero-effort, passive, and continuous monitoring of health variables, these devices generate data that could be leveraged for cases in which the data are related to the same self-report metric of interest. However, some challenges must be considered when discussing the use of mobile health technologies for public health to ensure digital health equity, privacy, and best practices. This paper provides, through a review of major Canadian surveys and mobile health studies, an overview of research involving mobile data for public health, including a mapping of variables currently collected by public health surveys that could be complemented with self-report, challenges to technology adoption, and considerations on digital health equity, with a specific focus on the Canadian context. Population characteristics from major smart technology brands-Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung-and demographic barriers to the use of technology are provided. We conclude with public health implications and present our view that public health agencies and researchers should leverage mobile health data while being mindful of the current barriers and limitations to device use and access. In this manner, data ecosystems that leverage personal smart devices for public health can be put in place as appropriate, as we move toward a future in which barriers to technology adoption are decreasing.
      (©Pedro Elkind Velmovitsky, Merna Kirolos, Paulo Alencar, Scott Leatherdale, Donald Cowan, Plinio Pelegrini Morita. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 12.09.2024.)
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    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: apps; digital public health; mHealth; mobile health; mobile phone; population health; public health; self-report; smart technology; surveillance; surveys; wearables
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20240912 Date Completed: 20240912 Latest Revision: 20240929
    • Publication Date:
      20240929
    • Accession Number:
      PMC11427850
    • Accession Number:
      10.2196/49719
    • Accession Number:
      39265164