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Mobile applications in children with cerebral palsy
M Rodríguez Mariblanca1, R Cano de la Cuerda1
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, España.
Insights
Mobile applications offer promising tools for managing cerebral palsy (CP). While many apps exist for CP, their low methodological quality hinders widespread adoption and generalizability of findings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent developmental disorder.
- Technological advancements are transforming healthcare towards personalized and preventive services.
- Mobile applications (apps) are emerging as valuable tools for managing children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review published information on mobile applications for cerebral palsy (CP).
- To describe, analyze, and classify apps relevant to CP management.
- To assess the utility of mobile technology in the context of CP.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic literature search for articles (2011-2017) on CP-related or potentially useful applications.
- Searched major mobile application markets for relevant apps.
- Included articles in English or Spanish that presented, analyzed, or validated applications.
Main Results:
- Identified 63 applications across databases and markets.
- Found 40 applications potentially useful for CP.
- Categorized 23 specifically designed apps: 11 for information, 3 for evaluation, and 9 for treatment.
Conclusions:
- Numerous mobile applications are available for CP or have potential utility.
- Despite available apps, the scientific evidence base is limited.
- Low methodological quality of studies prevents generalization of app usage for CP.
Introduction:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common developmental disorders. Technological development has enabled a transformation of the healthcare sector, which can offer more individualised, participatory, and preventive services. Within this context of new technology applied to the healthcare sector, mobile applications, or apps, constitute a very promising tool for the management of children with CP.
Objective:
The purpose of this article is to perform a systematic review of the information published about various mobile applications either directly related to CP or with potential to be useful in the context of the disease, and to describe, analyse, and classify these applications.
Material And Methods:
A literature search was carried out to gather articles published in English or Spanish between 2011 and 2017 which presented, analysed, or validated applications either specifically designed or potentially useful for CP. Furthermore, a search for mobile applications was conducted in the main mobile application markets.
Conclusions:
A total of 63 applications were found in biomedical databases and mobile application markets, of which 40 were potentially useful for CP and 23 were specifically designed for the condition (11 for information, 3 for evaluation, and 9 for treatment). There are numerous mobile applications either specifically designed for or with potential to be useful in the field of CP. However, despite the existing scientific evidence, the low methodological quality of scientific articles makes it impossible to generalise the use of these tools.
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