To be successful, digital health companies must develop apps using one or more credible sources of information, according to new guidelines cited by an American Medical Association post.
The guidelines were developed by independent nonprofit Xcertia. The guidelines address privacy, content, security, design and operability.
In terms of content, apps should be based on various credible sources, including protocols, published guidelines, evidence-based practice or actual studies in peer-reviewed journals. All information needs to be clearly communicated and easy to find.
As evidence changes over time, mobile health apps need to constantly reevaluate. The updated information should be communicated to users.
"You just need to [be] very clear and transparent about it," Michael Hodgkins, MD, chair of Xcertia and AMA chief medical information officer. "You can't bury this information in a dense user agreement. You need to have a separate section where people can see the information, or you need to link your website where people can see the information."