

As a result, research is emerging on the implementation and clinical outcomes of mHealth platforms, and preliminary evidence on their efficacy is beginning to surface. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of mHealth platforms to intervene in the management of mental health conditions.

As such, mHealth may offer a feasible approach for targeting a wide range of health conditions. It is evident that mobile devices are increasingly becoming an indispensable part of our lives and will continue to be so. It is plausible that the COVID-19 pandemic that has driven most of the world into forceful isolation may have contributed to this increment. According to a digital global report published in October 2020, mobile phones and the internet had a penetration rate of 60% and 67% worldwide, respectively, both of which increased by a staggering 1% in just 3 months compared with July 2020. In addition, as most of the world’s population already uses mobile devices, it is possible that mHealth interventions may allow greater access to care. These tracking data are invaluable as they may help inform users about their health status or provide necessary information to health care professionals during their decision-making process to subsequently provide actionable feedback to their patients. For example, mobile apps can be installed on a mobile device that allows for the measurement and collection of vital information such as location data and activities. The existing infrastructure and technology of mobile devices, such as mobile apps and mobile sensors, make them ideal candidates for offering convenience while addressing clinical concerns and improving health-related outcomes. With the overarching objective of improving health-related outcomes and awareness, mHealth platforms can either serve as standalone or complementary platforms and offer the potential to cater to the needs of many users, from health care professionals to patients and consumers. Mobile health (mHealth) refers to medical, health care, and public health practices that use mobile computing or technologies such as mobile phones, wireless devices, patient monitoring devices, and web-based platforms.
