Child-focused mHealth apps used in collaborative, real-world interventions: A scoping review

The field of rehabilitation is experiencing an influx of mobile health (mHealth) applications designed to improve access to care and support adherence to therapeutic interventions. Rehabilitation encompasses a range of disciplines, including audiology, speech language pathology, clinical psychology, occupational and physical therapy, orthotics and prosthetics, and physical and rehabilitation medicine; each contributing to optimizing function and reducing disability for individuals with diverse health conditions. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the literature on pediatric-focused mHealth apps in real-world intervention studies led by rehabilitation healthcare professionals as part of a collaborative care practice.

A comprehensive search was conducted using MEDLINE(R) ALL (Ovid), Embase and Embase Classic (Ovid), Nursing and Allied Health, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL (EBSCO) databases. A published protocol guided study selection and data extraction based on defined objectives and inclusion criteria.

Forty-five peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies addressed pediatric health conditions related to speech and language, hearing, mental health, physical functioning, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental disorders. Identified mHealth apps incorporated both active (e.g., two-way communication, tailored interventions, data uploads, interactive prompts) and passive features (e.g., reminders, digital diaries, Bluetooth connectivity, one-way messaging).

This review demonstrates the emerging use of pediatric mHealth applications within collaborative rehabilitative models. Findings underscore the need for greater integration of mHealth tools into interprofessional pediatric rehabilitation and for the use of consistent evaluation frameworks to support equitable and evidence-based digital care.