Bridging the Gap: Towards a Standardized Framework for Evaluating mHealth and AI-Enabled Health Applications.
Sahrish Mahmood Syed1, Aby Mathews Maluvelil2,3, Matvey Kipershtein3
1George Brown College, Toronto, Canada.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Evaluating mobile health (mHealth) and AI health applications is inconsistent. This review identifies key evaluation attributes and proposes a comprehensive taxonomy for better guidance.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Mobile health (mHealth) and AI-enabled health applications are rapidly advancing.
- Current evaluation frameworks for these technologies are fragmented and lack universal adoption.
- This inconsistency hinders clear guidance for patients, clinicians, and policymakers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify commonly cited and overlooked attributes in the evaluation of mHealth and AI health applications.
- To conduct a thematic analysis of AI governance and evaluation guidance.
- To synthesize findings into a consolidated, multi-domain taxonomy for comprehensive evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies published between 2014 and 2024.
- Identification and analysis of frequently mentioned evaluation attributes (e.g., usability, engagement, privacy).
- Thematic analysis of AI governance and evaluation guidance documents.
Main Results:
- Commonly identified attributes include usability, engagement, and privacy.
- Overlooked attributes such as cost and user retention were also highlighted.
- A multi-domain taxonomy was developed, covering strategic purpose, risk, safety, equity, transparency, explainability, and technical lifecycle.
Conclusions:
- A holistic foundation for evaluating mHealth and AI health applications is needed.
- The proposed taxonomy offers a comprehensive framework for consistent and thorough assessment.
- This work aims to improve guidance for stakeholders in the digital health landscape.
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