Taking connected mobile-health diagnostics of infectious diseases to the field

Nature. 2019 Feb;566(7745):467-474. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-0956-2. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Abstract

Mobile health, or 'mHealth', is the application of mobile devices, their components and related technologies to healthcare. It is already improving patients' access to treatment and advice. Now, in combination with internet-connected diagnostic devices, it offers novel ways to diagnose, track and control infectious diseases and to improve the efficiency of the health system. Here we examine the promise of these technologies and discuss the challenges in realizing their potential to increase patients' access to testing, aid in their treatment and improve the capability of public health authorities to monitor outbreaks, implement response strategies and assess the impact of interventions across the world.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Communicable Disease Control / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control / organization & administration
  • Communicable Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases / therapy*
  • Communicable Diseases / transmission
  • Contact Tracing
  • Data Analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Point-of-Care Systems
  • Public Health / methods
  • Public Health / trends
  • Smartphone
  • Telemedicine / methods*
  • Telemedicine / organization & administration*
  • Telemedicine / trends