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  • Essay / Healthcare Apps Report: Users, Priorities, and Challenges

    Type of Population Using Healthcare AppsAlmost everyone can benefit from healthcare apps. By owning a smart phone, one can easily download a healthcare app ready to help them track health-related information. However, studies show that only a percentage of the population tends to use healthcare apps. According to a population survey conducted by the Institute of Medical Sociology at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, only a fifth of smartphone users currently use health-related applications. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Users of the app tend to be younger, more educated and health-literate individuals, which makes up the majority of users. The same goes for people with chronic illnesses: they are more likely to use health apps than those without chronic illnesses, as it can help them better control their illness and reduce the number of visits to the doctor. (Using smartphones and health apps to change and manage health-related behaviors: a population-based survey, 2017) For the older population, a longitudinal survey conducted between 2011 and 2014 found that people (aged in average age of 75) used digital health at low rates. . There were indications of modest increases in usage rate between 2011 and 2014. There was also some increase in the number of people aged 75 and over using health apps between 2011 and 2014. (Trends of use of digital health technologies by older adults in the United States, 2011-2014). This service concludes that for most seniors, digital health technology is not well understood. Most questions relate to socioeconomic disparities and the apps' ability to improve the quality, cost, and safety of their healthcare. In the future, developers should focus on usability and scalability to improve the range and effectiveness of healthcare applications for the elderly. Key Challenges and Goals for Healthcare App Developers On the healthcare development side, different types of healthcare apps are specifically designed to target a population within the app market. As stated earlier, there are three main types of healthcare apps: daily fitness tracking, clinical care, and professional healthcare software. Daily fitness apps are low-risk software, so they target the health-conscious digital population. Different apps are always designed for a specific population and may or may not be useful for everyone. For example, applications with nutrition tracking functions, help maintain a healthy diet with weight loss, are aimed at the population who wants to acquire a desired eating habit and maintain their health. Apps that track exercise statistics of the physically active population, this can include all different types of casual or professional athletes. Apps that track women's periods can only be fully used by women who have regular periods. Apps that track sleep and relaxation status are primarily designed for people with anxiety..