More than 165,000 health and wellness apps are available, but a mere 36 apps account for nearly half of all downloads, according to a new study from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, an information and technology company that examines the health care industry.
With so many apps available, it’s important for you to be familiar with them, so you can better advise patients about which apps would work best for them. However, it’s impossible for you to test every app. Instead, familiarize yourself with the common characteristics of health apps, so you can advise patients what they should look for in a good health app.
Here are five characteristics of health apps that you should know about, according Klick Health, an independent health research agency.
1. Health apps are often information driven
Providing patients with content and information is the primary purpose of most health apps, according to Klick Health. Forty-eight percent of health apps provide users with content and information, while 19 percent give users access to health journal articles. Another 15 percent of apps provide patients with medication reminders.
Remind patients that they should always check any health information or advice they read online, or on apps, with a health care professional. Also, suggest that they stick to apps from reputable organizations, such as the Mayo Clinic.
2. The best health apps focus on one function
Very few health apps have multi-purpose functions. According to Klick Health, 82 percent of health apps have two or fewer functions.
Advise patient to look for apps that serve one specific function, such as tracking their blood sugar or counting their steps. If an app is trying to do too much at once, it might not be serving each function well.
3. Health apps tend to be drug-specific
Klick Health estimates that 38 percent of medication apps are built to support one specific drug.
Suggest that patients look for an app designed specifically for each of their drugs, as apps designed with a specific drug’s intricacies in mind will help patients manage their medication better than a generic drug management app. Also, double check apps to make sure they aren’t mixing up common sound-alike or look-alike drugs.
4. Many health apps have few reviews
Don’t let your patients shy away from a good app because it doesn’t have any reviews.
Forty-eight percent of all health apps have no user reviews, according to Klick Health. Newer apps might not have enough users yet to get many reviews, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad.
Suggest that patients start with the free version of an app to test it out first, and then upgrade to more advanced functions if they like it. Remind patients that if the app doesn’t meet their needs, they can always delete it and try a new one.
5. Most health apps are patient-focused
Health apps are largely designed for patient users. Klick Health estimates that half of all health apps are intended for patients, while 36 percent are geared toward physicians.
Make sure any app that patients download is designed for patients. If they try to use apps created for physicians or other health care professionals, they might get confused. Or, the app will be useless to them.
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