Bradway M, Carrion C, Vallespin B, Saadatfard O, Puigdomènech E, Espallargues M, Kotzeva A. (2017). mHealth assessment: Conceptualization of a global framework. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 5(5): e60. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.7291
Researchers discussed the current issues with assessing mHealth approaches. Their observations included that current frameworks for assessment are often inconsistent or incomplete and that the results of such evaluations are often inconclusive and are not generalizable to target audiences. In light of these observations, researchers called for standardization of assessment of mHealth approaches to address the disconnect between lengthy evaluation process and rapid development of mHealth approaches. A workgroup collaborated to propose a framework to guide evaluation of mHealth approaches that encourages collaboration and is flexible enough to be adapted to different settings. The first concept in the framework is the need to assign a diverse group of stakeholders to evaluate the approach. Next, the framework includes pre-assessing approaches during the development process and suggests that pre-assessment include assessments of risk, intended users, and integration. Pre-assessment could be facilitated by providing developers with guides during the development process. The framework also emphasizes using checklists in conjunction with pre-assessment to ensure that documentation for the approach includes relevant information. Such checklists should include identifying the intended use of the approach, level of development, security and privacy specifications, interoperability standards, usability, and functionalities and content. Finally, the framework emphasizes that evaluation should occur at multiple points of development and testing and using multiple methods of assessment.