Technological tools such as Web-based social networks, telemedicine, apps, or wearable
devices are becoming more widespread in health care like elsewhere. These devices are
embedded with the latest technology designed to monitor symptoms and clinical parameters or to
communicate with healthcare providers. However, mHealth technology faces many challenges
such as interoperability, funding, infrastructure, privacy and legal and regulatory issues. In
addition, concerns exist that mHealth consumers may misinterpret their data or rely on
information from apps or devices without consulting a healthcare professional. (Iribarren, &
Schnall, 2018, p. 264).
Health literacy refers to the ability of participants within the health care system to
accurately interpret and utilize relevant health information and resources to achieve their health
goals. Evidence suggests that many consumers possess limited levels of health literacy to
adequately understand health information, especially when they are feeling ill, since health
literacy is both a trait (limited education, language facility, etc.), and a state condition (based on
how their current physical and mental states influence their abilities to communicate effectively).
Therefore, it is incumbent upon mHealth developers to design and utilize message systems that
will be easy for consumers with health literacy challenges to understand (Kreps, 2017).
Due to the limited channel capacity on many mHealth technologies, such as the limited number
of characters that can be used for SMS texting or tweeting, care must be taken to strategically
design health messages that will convey full, accurate, timely health information, as well as
resonate with and make sense to diverse audiences. In many cases this will mean targeting, or
even tailoring, health messages for specific users so the messages include appropriate language,
provide meaningful examples, and suggest health options that the users can implement (Kreps,
2017).
Finally the biggest issue with mHealth is ensuring privacy and security for its users. Since
mHealth technologies gather such a broad range of information at such a fast pace, often
individuals are unaware of the collection of said information. Thus consent can sometimes be
breached. For example, it can be assumed that a smartphone, as a personal device is only going
to be used by the owner. However, phones can be stolen or borrowed by another person, resulting
in the phone’s mHealth apps recording data about the wrong person to the owner’s health record
or exposing the owner’s PHI via app displays and notifications. It is then important for a
smartphone to know when it is not in the owner’s possession. Encryption of data is a factor for
security that allows for the preservation of anonymity, however, it must be done before the
transfer of data. This process hides the content of a message while it is in transit, and the original
message can only be seen through a process called decryption. Once data are encrypted and the
challenge of anonymity has been addressed, the data collected can be transferred. mHealth
systems and the information they provide is typically managed by policies. Everyone involved in
the mHealth application must trust the system to provide high-integrity data and services while
respecting users’ privacy. This trust is partly based on mechanisms built into the technology and
trust in the people and organizations manufacturing and distributing devices and using the data.
These are the critical foundations for the technological mechanisms. Additionally, this trust
builds upon the fact that the user will believe that the information provided is as accurate as
possible. Everyone involved in the mHealth application must trust the system to provide high-
integrity data and services while respecting users’ privacy. Threats posed by cyber attacks and
breaches threaten this. To protect not only data but system inferences and decisions, solutions to
such attacks must go beyond the existing barriers.
References
Iribarren, S., & Schnall, R. (2018). mHealth: The intersection of mobile technology and health.
In R. Nelson & N. Staggers (Eds.), Health informatics - E-book: An interprofessional
approach (2nd ed., pp. 255-270). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Kreps, G. L. (2017). The relevance of health literacy to mHealth. Information Services &
Use, 37(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.3233/isu-170828
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