Emerging smart mobile health (mHealth) technologies can offer more than just motivational or reactionary behavioural change; if utilised effectively by care providers, a recent study shows that these tools have the potential to work proactively towards more preventative and cost-effective care. Investigators sought to answer the question “Is there any evidence that use of these devices and applications actually improve consumer’s health?

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Researchers from New York University’s Stern School of Business partnered with a major mHealth firm that provides one of the largest mobile health app platforms in Asia specialising in diabetes care. They utilised detailed patient health data from activities (e.g., steps, exercises, sleep, food intake) and blood glucose values from more than 1000 chronic diabetes patients over 15 months. 

Their findings showed that the adoption of the mHealth app led to an improvement in behaviours, which in turn led to both short term effects, such as a reduction in patients’ blood glucose) and longer-term metrics, such as fewer hospital visits and medical expenses.  Authors report that patients who adopted the mHealth app undertook higher levels of exercise, consumed healthier food with lower calories, walked more steps and slept for longer periods on a daily basis. Study participants were also more likely to substitute offline visits with telehealth. 

https://healthmanagement.org/c/it/news/can-mobile-health-apps-actually-make-us-healthier