Digital medicine: What is behind the health apps?
Areas of application & how to recognize serious offers
Created: 03/15/2022, 17:46
By: Johanna Werning
More and more health apps are appearing on the market, but what's the truth?
© Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/dpa
There are many “apps on prescription”.
The medical health apps promise support for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or high blood pressure.
But what's the point?
Countless apps are currently on the market – including many in the field of health and fitness.
Since October 2020 there has also been special software in the App Store, so-called
medical health apps
.
They belong to the
digital health applications (DiGa)
.
What is special: “Unlike fitness apps, for example, DiGa must be tested and approved.
Only then can the doctor prescribe them and the health insurance company will cover the costs," says Dr.
Tanja Katrin Hantke, health expert at the "vivida bkk" health insurance company.
The apps are currently used for
illnesses such as diabetes
*
, cancer or high blood pressure
.
But how do the apps work?
Who can use the digital health application and what should you pay attention to?
The "app on prescription": This is how the medical health app works
The apps are considered a
digital medical
product and cannot simply be used by users, explains the
consumer advice
center .
The company behind the app must first prove "that their software contributes to better medical care for users."
In addition, the app can only be downloaded on doctor's orders or with the approval of the health insurance company - an
"app on prescription"
so to speak.
Only with a prescription or approval does one receive a code with which the software can be used free of charge.
Medical health apps for back pain or depression: "Offer preventive measures"
According to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, there are now
a total of 31 medical apps
.
In principle, the programs should inform sick people about their illness, "offer preventive measures and support them with training or nutrition," explains the
consumer advice
center .
In addition,
medical values can be measured, stored and evaluated
.
Basically, there are apps for back pain, apps to help with depression or supportive apps for migraines and pregnancy.
Consumer advice center warns: Health app "in the worst case can cause damage"
According to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the apps for digital health applications
open up
"many possibilities to support the detection and treatment of diseases and on the way to a self-determined, health-promoting lifestyle".
However, there are also
risks in use
- and they mainly concern
data protection
, warns the consumer advice center.
also read
Pharmaceutical industry: how big is the influence on medical training?
Hundreds of thousands of doctors have to attend seminars on a regular basis, and the market is competitive.
The Esanum Academy is suspected of influencing doctors through pharmaceutical sponsorship.
This is shown by research by Ippen Investigative.
Pharmaceutical industry: how big is the influence on medical training?
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"So far there are
no uniform quality criteria
and no mandatory information on the intended purpose, areas of application and user groups and limits of the use of health apps," it continues.
"So there can be helpful apps, but there can also be apps whose usefulness has not been proven and which, in the worst case, can even cause damage."
Selection - how do you find reputable providers?
But which
health apps are reputable
?
According to the consumer center, the DiGa directory offers an initial orientation.
There is also a directory from the Bertelsmann Foundation, which also evaluates digital health applications.
In both cases, however, the app is rated "on the basis of the manufacturer's self-assessment".
The consumer advice center has published a
guide
on how to distinguish between
serious health
app offers and dubious offers.
In addition, the software should only be used on the advice of a physician.
The following questions will help you to assess the seriousness and usefulness of an app:
What
function should the app
fulfill?
Does the actual function match what was promised?
Who is the
manufacturer of the app
: a scientific institute, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies?
Is someone interested in selling you their products?
How is the
app funded?
Is advertising displayed, are sponsors named?
Is the
advice and information understandable
?
Are the output data/values plausible?
Do the
measured values
(e.g. blood sugar values) differ significantly from the values measured by the doctor?
In the case of critical values, is it indicated to
consult a doctor
?
Are the required
access authorizations
actually necessary for the function of the app?
For example, does the app request access to the address book even though it only has a pure documentation function?
Is there any information about passing on data to third parties and if so, to whom and for what purpose is the
data passed on
?
Where is the
data stored
: on the smartphone or externally by the provider?
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