5 Qualities That the Best
Mobile Health Apps Tend
to Have

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are not something that we just recently came to know. They have been around for years, and many of us have used one at some point. The demand for mHealth apps is on the rise these days as more people are turning to digital health services.

According to Grand View Research, the global mHealth market was valued at $62.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by 14.1% annually from 2024 to 2030 ⁽¹⁾.

Integrating AI, big data, and telehealth solutions, mHealth apps now come with more features and better functionality, helping caregivers offer more personalized care. At the same time, they are also empowering patients with anytime, anywhere access to medical care.

But before we can consider mobile health apps benefits to be truly useful, they must meet certain quality standards. This article discusses the top five qualities of the best mobile health apps.

1. User-Friendly Design and Interface

This should be the top priority for developers of mHealth apps. They should focus on making the interface simple and intuitive so that anyone with little tech skills can easily use and navigate the app. Put simply, the app should have a user-friendly design that works for everyone.

Health tech companies should also consider target users while developing mobile health applications. It’s good to have unique features in an app, but the interface should in no way make it hard for users to use the basic features. If patients need to spend too much time figuring out how it works, they won’t use it. It’s as simple as that! Research has also shown that patients are less likely to use apps that are hard to navigate or confusing ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾.

2. Relevant and Useful

Good mobile health apps for patients offer functionality that meet users’ expectations. The initial concept may sound great to developers and company executives, but it won’t be of any value if users don’t find it helpful. Hence, it’s always better to do some proper research before the development phase.

Patients often like personalized experiences such as tailored health tips, medication reminders, or care plans based on their health needs. This not only keeps them engaged but also makes the app more effective in managing their conditions. In short, the app should make life easier for patients by promoting behavior change and helping with disease management ⁽⁴⁾.

3. Evidence-Based and Clinically Validated

Clinically validated mobile health apps for patients are typically developed with input from medical experts. These apps undergo many tests to prove that they can really help improve patient care. This includes doing solid research to spot market gaps, assessing user expectations before development, and gathering feedback once the app is live. The more testing an app goes through, the better the final product will be ⁽⁵⁾.

Companies developing an app can conduct a qualitative study to understand what features and functions prospective users want to see in it. This will help them develop a product that matches their expectations. Once the application goes live in app stores, they can do further studies to improve and refine it, collecting feedback from users.

App developers may also approach national bodies like the NHS in the UK to enlist their app in the NHS Apps Library, which has a collection of approved mHealth apps. The NSH evaluates these apps for safety, usability, accessibility, and technical stability to ensure they meet high standards ⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾.

4. Enhanced Data Security and Privacy

A good mHealth app must ensure the confidentiality of patient health data. The makers must take strict security and privacy measures and shouldn’t leave any room for data breaches. They should also be transparent about how they collect, store, and use protected health information (PHI). If the app shares health data with third parties, users must clearly know exactly who has access to their data ⁽⁴⁾⁽⁶⁾.

For app developers in the U.S., a better way to address these mobile health apps challenges is to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Once the app gets HIPAA clearance, this will assure patients that their data is stored in a highly encrypted and secure manner ⁽⁷⁾.

5. Easy Integration with Healthcare Systems

The best mobile health apps are not standalone applications—they integrate seamlessly with existing health systems to streamline healthcare operations and improve clinical workflows. They should work smoothly with electronic health records, telehealth, and other digital health solutions. This means these apps should allow healthcare providers to track patient data in real-time and make more informed decisions ⁽⁵⁾.

For example, apps like Epocrates and Drugs.com have set the standard, offering features that support clinical decision-making and easily integrate into healthcare workflows. This helps patients and providers stay connected and coordinate care more effectively.

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References

1. Grand View Research. (n.d.). mHealth market size, share & growth analysis report 2030. Grand View Research. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/mhealth-market.

2. Ross, E. L., Jamison, R. N., Nicholls, L., Perry, B. M., & Nolen, K. D. (2020). Clinical integration of a smartphone app for patients with chronic pain: retrospective analysis of predictors of benefits and patient engagement between clinic visits. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(4), e16939. doi: 10.2196/16939.

3. Tahsin, F., Tracy, S., Chau, E., Harvey, S., Loganathan, M., McKinstry, B., … & Steele Gray, C. (2021). Exploring the relationship between the usability of a goal-oriented mobile health application and non-usage attrition in patients with multimorbidity: a blended data analysis approach. Digital health, 7, 20552076211045579. doi: 10.1177/20552076211045579.

4. Vo, V., Auroy, L., & Sarradon-Eck, A. (2019). Patients’ perceptions of mHealth apps: meta-ethnographic review of qualitative studies. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(7), e13817. doi: 10.2196/13817.

5. Woulfe, F., Fadahunsi, K. P., O’Grady, M., Chirambo, G. B., Mawkin, M., Majeed, A., … & O’Donoghue, J. (2022). Modification and validation of an mHealth app quality assessment methodology for International use: cross-sectional and eDelphi studies. JMIR Formative Research, 6(8), e36912. doi:10.2196/36912.

6. Tan, Y. Y., Woulfe, F., Chirambo, G. B., Henn, P., Cilliers, L., Fadahunsi, K. P., … & O’Donoghue, J. (2022). Framework to assess the quality of mHealth apps: a mixed-method international case study protocol. BMJ open, 12(10), e062909. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062909.

7. Edemekong, P. F., Annamaraju, P., & Haydel, M. J. (2018). Health insurance portability and accountability act. Bookshelf ID: NBK500019. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500019/.