Persian mobile health applications for COVID-19: A use case-based study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Mobile Health Applications
• Public Health Informatics

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the global development of numerous mobile health applications.
• In Iran, many mobile health apps were created to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize Persian Android and iOS mobile applications developed for COVID-19.
• To determine the use-cases of these applications using a reference model.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted.
• Systematic searches of Iranian mobile app markets for COVID-19 related apps were performed in January 2021.
• Apps were analyzed for characteristics and use-cases, categorized against a reference model.

Main Results:

• 122 apps were evaluated; 87.7% were free.
• Only 5% involved clinical experts; 50% provided developer contact information.
• Primary use-cases included educational (98%), contextual needs (18%), communication (0.83%), and health management (2%).

Conclusions:

• Persian mobile apps for COVID-19 are currently insufficient in scope and quality.
• Despite their quantity, the diversity of use-cases in these apps is limited, particularly in health management and information sharing.
• There is a significant need to enhance the development and functionality of mobile health applications for future public health crises.