A significant criticism of mobile health is the sheer number of pilot projects inundating the third world, writes [s]iMedicalApps[/s]. A recent [s]PLOS Medicine[/s] paper noted that in 2008 and 2009, approximately 23 of 36 mHealth initiatives did not move beyond the pilot phase. The publication's editors called for a 'technical reality check' for researchers to continue the advancement of mobile medical projects, questioning the interoperability, open standards, and evaluation methods of mobile health projects.
The critical thing missing often is that of the user experience, writes Dr Garth Graham, head of the [b]Aetna Foundation[/b], which supports the implementation of digital health tools intended for low-income and minority populations. 'User interface designers and experts have cited numerous projects around the world as models for others – the Praekelt Foundation's (@praekelfound), the MAMA project (@mamaglobal) in South Africa, the Ona records project in Kenya, and Medic Mobile. Their primary theme? Including the end-users in the initial design.'
[link url=http://www.imedicalapps.com/2014/03/evaluating-scaling-mobile-health-interventions-aetna-foundation-ceo-shares-insights] iMedicalApps[/link]