Rogue medical apps

There's a lot of enthusiasm for medical apps for mobile devices (and rightly so) but some recent reviews [1,2] suggest there is much that can be done to ensure they follow the available guidelines and evidence in medicine. Also getting healthcare professionals involved in the design would seem a good place to start [3]. A case of enthusiasm and opportunity over clinical care perhaps?

1. Chomutare T, Fernandez-Luque L, Arsand E, Hartvigsen G. Features of mobile diabetes applications: review of the literature and analysis of current applications compared against evidence-based guidelines. J. Med. Internet Res. 2011;13(3):e65. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21979293

2. Abroms LC, Padmanabhan N, Thaweethai L, Phillips T. iPhone Apps for Smoking Cessation. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2011 Mar;40(3):279–285. Available from: http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(10)00708-7/abstract

3. Rosser BA, Eccleston C. Smartphone applications for pain management. J Telemed Telecare 2011;17(6):308–312. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21844177