Mapping mHealth research: a decade of evolution

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Mobile Health (mHealth)

Background:

• mHealth has grown significantly within eHealth over the past decade.
• Mobile health applications offer potential for diverse audiences and specific health needs.
• Despite market evolution, systematic research on mHealth's impact on health outcomes is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review mHealth research trends.
• To assess the influence of smartphones on mHealth research since their introduction.
• To identify key healthcare areas impacted by mobile technologies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of mobile phone and smartphone impact in healthcare.
• Categorization of studies using adapted and inductively created typologies.
• Analysis of publication trends, research methodologies, and outcome measures.

Main Results:

• 117 articles published 2002-2012, with a surge post-2007.
• Research focused on chronic conditions, utilizing clinical trials and pilot studies.
• Shift observed from technology assessment to impact assessment, with increasing sample sizes.

Conclusions:

• mHealth research shows growing interest and complexity.
• New mobile technologies' potential remains largely unexplored.
• Understanding field evolution informs future mHealth developments.