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Care should be taken with health apps
A total of 379,000 apps from the fields of medicine, fitness and nutrition have researchers at the University Hospital Freiburg on behalf of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) counted. Many of them are worthless, so the conclusion of the scientists. In the future, TK intends to increasingly contribute to the prevention of diseases with its own useful smartphone applications. "The figures show that we are not dealing with a fad on the topic of 'Digital Health' or a trend that moves only a group of a few, young people," stresses TK CEO Dr. Ing. Jens Baas in a statement on the study.
Use smartphone apps to prevent illness?
Meanwhile, almost everyone knows it - and not a few use it. Fitness apps are very popular. The small applications for the smartphone allow you to measure your own performance and to compare yourself with others. Some providers provide their users with more or less individual training plans. Who wants to get rid of a few pounds before the summer vacation, also has the choice between countless nutritional apps. In the health sector, the range now extends from headache apps on pregnancy apps to diabetes apps. They all promise to help us with a healthy lifestyle.
Researchers have now investigated 379,000 apps on behalf of TK. The cash register wants to put more emphasis on own applications for smartphones. "The time has come to massively advance the digital supply," says Baas. For example, the insured persons themselves could measure their health and fitness data and partly take their own health into their own hands. That could serve the prevention of illnesses and support therapies. "As a Techniker Krankenkasse, we have a great interest in developing and offering high-quality apps, but we also support the development of others and recommend them further," explains Baas. "Because well-made apps empower the patient on their own responsibility, provide guideline-based information (as opposed to" Dr. Google ") and provide added value - ideally for the insured, but also for his health insurance." Baas warns in this context before an unhealthy Half knowledge from the internet.
Many health apps are now available, but some may require caution. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com) In particular, many older people use the Internet to obtain medical information. According to a TK survey, 28 percent of people over the age of 50 only look up the net. 75 percent of people over the age of 60 obtain "mainly" information about their own health on the internet.
Health apps collect data
The TK relies on serious apps. For example, the health insurance offers a diabetes app that allows you to keep a digital blood glucose diary. "The user can load his blood glucose readings wirelessly and easily into his smartphone and spares the writing, the doctor receives a readable and usable overview of the disease course of his diabetic patient and we as health insurance create a real service added value and hope for diabetes Patients who are better cared for, "explains Baas. The TK CEO emphasizes that the cash register makes no profit with the data and also have no commercial interest in it. For other app providers this could be different.
Some private insurers such as Generali and Ergo want to offer their customers health and fitness data for a financial bonus. Critics fear, however, that such a system could mean that only those who disclose their data are affordably insured.
The co-author of the TK study, Ursula Kramer, advises caution in the apps. "If the app is missing a privacy policy or is not clear how it is financed, you are certainly well advised to look for an alternative." Health apps should always on the medical benefits, the timeliness, the provider and the Contact options for this eighth.
According to the TK survey, one third of the respondents would be prepared to pass on their self-measured data to the health insurance fund. The majority (40 percent) is against it. (Ag)