Mobile applications for eye care in Canada: an analysis of the iTunes store

Rodin, A.; Shachak, A.; Miller, A.; Akopyan, V.; Semenova, N.

Авторы: Alexander Rodin, Aviv Shachak, Aaron Miller, Vladimir Akopyan, Nataliya Semenova
Журнал: JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH
Том: 5
Номер: 6
Год издания: 2017
DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.7055
Аннотация: Background: Smartphone screens can facilitate stimuli to varied, discrete visual systems and many mobile applications are accepted as a means of providing clinical assessments for the oculo-visual system. Although many of these apps are intended for use in clinical settings, there is a growing number of consumer-facing applications in eye care developed for self-tests, eye exercises. These and other features however have not yet been well described. Objective: To identify, describe, and categorize mobile phone apps related to eye care that are available to users in the Canadian iTunes market. Methods: We conducted an extensive search of the Apple iTunes store for apps that related to eye care. We used the terms “eye”, “eye care, “vision”, and “eye test” and included apps that are targeted to both lay consumers and medical professionals. We excluded apps whose primary function is not related to eye care. Eligible apps were categorized by primary purpose based on how they have been described by their developers in the iTunes store Results: Our search yielded 10,657 apps, of which 427 met our inclusion criteria. After removing duplicates, 355 unique apps were subject to further review. We assigned eligible apps into three distinct categories: 39 apps (11%) intended for use by medical professionals, 236 apps (66%) intended for use by consumers, and 80 apps (23%) intended for purposes of marketing eye care and eye care products. We identified 9 subcategories of apps based on the description of their primary functions. Apps for medical professionals contained three subcategories: clinical calculators (n=6), clinical diagnostic tools (n=18), and education and networking apps for professionals (n=15). Consumer-facing apps fell into four subcategories: self-testing (n=153), eye exercises (n=30), patient tools and low vision aids (n=35), and apps for patient education (n=18). Mixed-use apps (n=80) were classified into two subcategories: marketing of individual practitioner or eye-care products (n=72) and marketing of multiple eye-care products or professional services. Conclusions: The most extensive subcategory pertaining to eye care were apps for use by consumers, especially for conducting self-tests (n=236). This study revealed a previously uncharacterized category of apps intended for use by doctors and patients, of which the primary goal is marketing of eye care services and products (n=80).
Добавил в систему: Родин Александр Сергеевич

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