Privacy challenges identified for apps, including metrics such as star ratings
HealthDay operates under the strictest editorial standards. Our syndicated news content is completely independent of any financial interests, is based solely on industry-respected sources and the latest scientific research, and is carefully fact-checked by a team of industry experts to ensure accuracy.
Please see our Editorial and Fact-Checking Policy for more detail.
HeathDay is committed to maintaining the highest possible levels of impartial editorial standards in the content that we present on our website. All of our articles are chosen independent of any financial interests. Editors and writers make all efforts to clarify any financial ties behind the studies on which we report.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Mental health apps offer basic features and privacy challenges are common, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Network Open.
Erica Camacho, from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues examined the current state of mental health apps and the opportunities and challenges facing the commercial app landscape in a cross-sectional study. A total of 578 mental health apps were assessed and rated across 105 dimensions. Each app was rated across six categories: app origin and accessibility; privacy and security; clinical foundation; features and engagement; inputs and outputs; and interoperability. Privacy scores were determined based on five M-Health Index and Navigation Database criteria.
The researchers found that the top app features included psychoeducation, goal setting, and mindfulness. Overall, 77 percent of the apps analyzed had a privacy policy. No significant association was seen between privacy scores and Apple App Store or Google Play Store star ratings in an analysis of apps with a privacy policy. There was a weak association observed between the number of app downloads on the Google Play Store and privacy scores.
"The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that the current app marketplaces lack diversity in their offerings and fail to implement potentially high-impact features," the authors write. "Another challenge to the app space is that easily accessible metrics like star ratings fail to consider privacy capabilities. Thus, clinicians and patients must discern apps beyond such measures to ensure the discovery of apps that both fit their unique needs and protect their privacy."
One author is a stockholder in Precision Mental Wellness.
Abstract/Full Text
This story may be outdated. We suggest some alternatives.
The content contained in this article is over two years old. As such our recommendation is that you reference the articles below for the latest updates on this topic. This article has been left on our site as a matter of historic record. Please contact us at solutions@healthday.com with any questions.
Elana Gotkine
Published on December 29, 2022
Copyright © 2020 HealthDay.
All rights reserved.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
