Mapping the landscape of Tuberculosis mobile apps in India

Digital support, like mobile applications, improve treatment results in tuberculosis. However, the dearth of knowledge on these applications have led to their limited use in India. Our study aims to fill this lacuna by assessing the functionality and intended use of mobile applications related to tuberculosis in India. An extensive search was done on Google Play Store, Apple Store and Amazon. Apps were included if they focused on tuberculosis and were excluded if they were not for the Indian population or were related to other diseases. Each app was assessed for 7 functional categories and 4 subcategories, accuracy and intended use. Data was entered into Epicollect and was extracted onto Excel and analyzed. Of 459 apps identified from the search, 32 were included in the study. Maximum apps provided e-Learning information (66 %), while least apps provided telemedicine consultation and assistance for individualized dosing (16 % each). Regarding functionalities, most apps recorded information (72 %) and least provided reminder alerts (22 %). About 56 % of the apps showed good functionality. 12 apps contained wrong or outdated information. Given the digital advancements available, there is further scope to leverage the use of technology to help India eliminate tuberculosis.