Getting Digital Health Applications into General Practice: A protocol for m-health regulation, awareness and adoption

Background and Framework: Non-communicable diseases such as mental health, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are some of the leading causes of death worldwide, with nearly half of Australians having one or more chronic conditions. An abundance of digital health applications (apps) can be prescribed by General Practitioners (GPs) for effective self-management for patients. Most developed countries have some policy frameworks for improved decision-making for m-health. Australia recently developing the mHealth Assessment Framework, that is planned to be voluntary assessment rather than regulatory in implementation. However, lack of knowledge and trustworthiness are barriers to apps prescription amongst Australian GPs.

Aims: Investigate the current regulatory and validatory frameworks, apps libraries as well as GP’s knowledge, barriers and prescription behaviours aiming for operationalization of better adoption strategies for m-health apps by health care practitioners in chronic, non-communicable disease management.

Methodology and Results: A multi-stage research approach is being utilized. The first stage, a narrative review of literature involving PubMed, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL and grey literature is in progress aiming at reviewing regulatory m-health frameworks across Australia, and comparing and contrasting with international frameworks. The second stage involves in-depth semi-structured interviews with GPs to evaluate knowledge, prescription, barriers and facilitators for m-health apps. The final stage involves in-depth semi-structured interviews with health policy experts on centralized and decentralised approaches for regulatory frameworks in Australia and pathways for safe and effective adoption of m-health apps.

Conclusions: This novel research has wide-ranging implications to m-health regulation and adoption contributing to preventative future of health in Australia.