Mobile Health, or mHealth, refers to the practice of medicine and public health supported by mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable technology. It encompasses a wide range of activities including health education, remote monitoring, and healthcare service delivery.
Telemedicine involves the remote delivery of healthcare services using telecommunications technology. This can include consultations, diagnoses, and treatment planning conducted via video conferencing, phone calls, or secure messaging.
Wearable technology includes devices worn on the body that collect data related to health and fitness. Examples include smartwatches, fitness trackers, and wearable biosensors.
Remote Patient Monitoring involves using technology to monitor patients’ health outside of traditional healthcare settings. This can include tracking vital signs, symptoms, and medication adherence through mobile apps and connected devices.
Health Apps are software applications designed to support healthcare-related activities such as tracking fitness goals, managing chronic conditions, and providing access to health information and resources.
Data Security and Privacy in mHealth refers to the measures taken to protect patients’ sensitive health information transmitted and stored on mobile devices and digital platforms. This includes encryption, secure authentication, and compliance with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Digital Therapeutics are evidence-based interventions delivered through software programs or mobile apps to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions. They often incorporate elements of behavioral therapy, education, and remote monitoring.
Gamification involves incorporating game-like elements such as points, rewards, and challenges into health-related apps and programs to motivate behavior change and engagement in self-care activities.
Big Data Analytics involves the analysis of large volumes of healthcare data collected from various sources, including mobile devices, to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can inform clinical decision-making, public health initiatives, and personalized interventions.
The Digital Divide refers to the gap between individuals who have access to digital technologies such as smartphones and the internet and those who do not. In the context of mHealth, addressing the digital divide is crucial to ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and resources.