UCSF Study Questions Mobile Healthcare Apps

A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco questions whether popular mobile healthcare apps are actually helping vulnerable populations.

            The study put four popular apps in the hands of 26 patients at San Francisco General Hospital who either had chronic conditions such as depression or diabetes or were caregivers for aging parents. Each of the apps was geared to their medical condition or those of their family members. Virtually all of the participants said they were unable to fully negotiate the apps or use them at all.

            “We’ve seen a recent glut of mobile apps that are meant to help people monitor their fitness levels and enhance their health,” said Urmimala Sarkar, M.D., a UCSF associate professor of medicine, who led . “But many of the patients we see at Zuckerberg San Francisco General – who have serious, and often multiple health problems – don’t appear to be able to use or access this technology. And they’re the ones who have the most to gain from these advances. We need to see more of a focus on designing technology for this population.”