AUTHOR=Sujarwoto Sujarwoto , Augia Trisfa , Dahlan Hendery , Sahputri Rindi Ardika Melsalasa , Holipah Holipah , Maharani Asri 

TITLE=COVID-19 Mobile Health Apps: An Overview of Mobile Applications in Indonesia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.879695

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.879695

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) have been widely used for various purposes for mitigating COVID-19 pandemic, such as self-assessment, contact tracing, disseminating information, minimising exposure, and reducing face-to-face health consultation. The objective of this study is to systematically review COVID-19 related mHealth apps and highlight gaps to inform the development of future mHealth initiatives in Indonesia.
Methods: A systematic search strategy using a PRISMA flowchart was used to identify mHealth apps available. We searched mHealth apps using certain specific terms related to COVID-19 outbreaks. The inclusion criteria were apps-based smartphone users related COVID-19 using local language, free of cost, available in Google Play and Apple Play Stores, and supported by the government. We excluded games, apps on infectious disease unrelated to COVID-19 specifically, and apps with non-Indonesian language. The selected mHealth apps were assessed based on two measures: (1) the WHO guidelines on digital health intervention and (2) the four dimensions of the mHealth technology fit framework. Users' feedback from experienced and non-experienced users was conducted to evaluate four dimensions of the apps.
Results: A total of 339 mHealth apps were generated from the initial search, remaining seven selected apps that met inclusion criteria. The results highlighted that mHealth apps had still not been widely used by the general public. The applications were purposed to disseminate information, conduct a self-risk assessment, provide an online community forum, and telemedicine or teleconsultation regarding COVID-19. Data services, including data storage, aggregation, and data exchange, are available in most apps. The least function found was contact tracing and assisting health management and health workers, such as availability of testing facilities, reporting test results, and prescribing medication. The main issues reported were the lack of data security and data privacy protection, integration and infrastructures, usability, and usefulness.
Conclusion: The necessity to improve mHealth app's function related to assisting health workers and the function of digital contact tracing. An effort to increase public awareness regarding the use of mHealth is necessary to streamline the function of this innovation. Policymakers must consider usefulness, usability, integration, and infrastructure issues to improve mHealth function.