Health and Medical apps - Same Same but Different? An Interdisciplinary Literature Overview of Existing Definitions in Public Health and Law (Preprint)

Abstract

The terms health app and medical app are often used interchangeably but do not necessarily mean the same. To better understand these terms and better regulate such technologies, we need distinct definitions of health and medical apps. Therefore, this paper aims to overview definitions for health and medical apps from an interdisciplinary perspective. We summarize core elements of identified definitions for their holistic understanding in the context of digital public health.

This paper aims to overview definitions for health and medical apps from an interdisciplinary perspective. We summarize core elements of identified definitions for their holistic understanding in the context of digital public health.

The legal frameworks for medical device regulation in the US, the European Union, and Germany form the base of this paper. We then searched six databases for articles defining health or medical apps from an interdisciplinary perspective. Qualitative analysis was conducted on identified relevant aspects and core elements of each definition. Based on the findings, we developed a holistic definition of health and medical apps and created a decision flow chart to highlight the differences between the two types.

The legal framework showed that medical apps could be regulated as mobile medical devices, while there is no legal term for health apps. Our review identified 22 peer-reviewed papers defining health apps and 11 describing medical apps. The literature suggests that medical apps are a part of health apps. For describing health or medical apps, most definitions used the user group, a description of health, the device, the legal regulation, collected data, or technological functions.

Health and medical apps can share the same device, collect health data, and have similar technological functions, making these criteria indeterminative for differentiation. The regulation should also not be a distinction criterion, as it requires legal knowledge, which is neither suitable nor practical. However, there is a difference in the main user group as medical apps address health professionals, patients, and family caregivers rather than health-conscious people. Additionally, an app's intended medical or health use enables a clear differentiation between health and medical apps. Ultimately, the health aim of an app and its main target group are the only distinction criteria. To conclude, health apps are software programs on mobile devices that process health-related data on/for their user. They can be used by every health-conscious person to maintain, improve or manage the health of an individual or the community. As an umbrella term, health apps include medical apps. Medical apps share the same technological functions and devices. Health professionals, patients, and family caregivers are the main user groups. Medical apps are intended for clinical and medical purposes and can legally be regulated as mobile medical devices.