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Mobile applications for client use: Ethical and legal considerations
Amanda Edwards-Stewart1, Cynthia Alexander2, Christina M Armstrong3
1Research Division.
Psychological Services
|December 21, 2018
Summary
Psychologists can ethically integrate mobile health applications into therapy by ensuring general smartphone competence and app familiarity. This includes obtaining informed consent and educating clients on data privacy to mitigate risks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Digital Health
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Mobile applications (apps) for behavioral health are increasingly common and recommended by healthcare providers.
- Emerging technologies often outpace existing regulations, creating novel ethical challenges for clinicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify best practices for psychologists incorporating mobile apps into clinical treatment.
- To address ethical and legal considerations for using technology in therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current ethical standards and legal requirements for technology use in clinical practice.
- Extrapolation of existing guidelines to novel digital health tools.
Main Results:
- Providers need general smartphone competence and specific app familiarity.
- Informed consent procedures must address privacy and security of client-generated data.
- Educating clients on data safeguarding (e.g., encryption, password protection) is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Psychologists must proactively address ethical and legal issues when recommending apps.
- Balancing technological advancement with patient privacy and legal compliance is essential for responsible digital health integration.
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