Are there only positive things to say about health apps, or do conflicts also come to light, especially from an ethical perspective? This will be clarified in this essay. In order to be able to analyze and discuss these possible challenges, risks and also opportunities of this technological innovation, however, important background information must first be presented. - What is meant by the term health app? Into which categories and areas of application can they be divided? How do they differ from medical apps? What are their goals and benefits?
Mobile health technologies, especially health apps, have gained a lot of notoriety in society in recent years and are here to stay as a key component of digitalization in healthcare. They reinforce the possibility of being able to directly influence one's own health in a self-determined manner. Especially through the smartphone, health-promoting measures such as sports or relaxation exercises can be carried out in time and location independence and usually in connection with games and fun. This and advertisements by celebrities or politicians in the (social) media considerably increase the attractiveness of a healthy lifestyle.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Conceptual classifications of health apps
2.1 eHealth and mHealth
2.2 Health apps and their delimitation from medical apps
3. Ethical aspects of health apps
3.1 Ethical questions
3.2 Discussion
4. Summary and conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This essay explores the dual nature of mobile health applications, investigating whether they function as a beneficial tool for health promotion or as a source of ethical conflict. The core research objective is to analyze the opportunities and risks associated with health apps, specifically focusing on data privacy, quality control, equity of access, and the overall impact on patient self-determination.
- Conceptual definitions and classifications of eHealth and mHealth technologies.
- Distinction between general health apps and medical-grade digital health applications (DiGA).
- Ethical analysis regarding surveillance, autonomy, and the reliability of health-related content.
- Socio-economic challenges, including equality of access and the digital divide.
- Evaluation of health apps as instruments for empowering individuals in self-determined health management.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Ethical aspects of health apps
Ethics is a discipline of philosophy and was first named in this context by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (Düwell et al., 2006). The word ethics comes from the Greek word "ethos" and "means something like "custom, usage, habit", so that "ethical" would be considered to be acting in accordance with generally accepted norms" (Fenner, 2020). In the actual sense, however, these norms and traditions are subordinated to human reason. Ethical action thus describes a distinction between good and bad according to one's own reason. It is about behaving in the right way. (Düwell et al., 2006) Whether this is the case can be tested according to the categorical imperative according to the German philosopher Kant with the question "What would be if everyone acted like this?". Kant's ethics, however, forbids or enjoins some actions fundamentally, in independence of their consequences. That is why it is also called deontological ethics, which means ethics of duties. According to this, lying, torturing and killing a human being are morally forbidden. (Frey & Schmalzried, 2013) In general, however, there are many other ethics and sub-ethics besides Kant's ethics.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the proliferation of health apps as a key component of healthcare digitalization and poses the central question of their ethical implications.
2. Conceptual classifications of health apps: This section defines the terminology surrounding eHealth and mHealth and distinguishes general health apps from certified medical apps.
3. Ethical aspects of health apps: This chapter examines the moral challenges posed by health apps, including user privacy, quality of information, and the influence of developers' motivations.
4. Summary and conclusion: This final section synthesizes the opportunities and risks of health apps and advocates for their use under the condition of critical user awareness and legal safeguards.
Keywords
Health apps, mHealth, eHealth, Digitalization, Ethics, Data privacy, Healthcare, Self-determination, Medical apps, Quality control, Digital divide, Health promotion, Prevention, Patient autonomy, Smartphone
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay examines the dual role of health applications in modern society, weighing their potential benefits as health-promoting tools against the ethical risks they present.
What are the primary themes covered in the text?
Key themes include the conceptual definition of mobile health, the ethical challenges of data privacy and surveillance, the reliability of health information, and the accessibility of these technologies for all population groups.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks whether health apps are a "curse or a blessing," specifically investigating if the technological innovation fosters self-determination or creates new ethical vulnerabilities for the user.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The work utilizes a literature-based analysis, synthesizing definitions and findings from current studies, market research (such as Bitkom), and medical-ethical discourse.
What content is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body classifies different types of health and medical applications, establishes an ethical framework based on philosophical principles, and discusses specific risks like data breaches, advertising influence, and social equity.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The paper is characterized by terms such as mHealth, Ethics, Data privacy, Digitalization, and Patient autonomy.
How are medical apps distinguished from regular health apps?
Medical apps are defined as those that must support the detection, prevention, or treatment of disease and often undergo evaluation to receive CE marking, allowing them to be prescribed as digital health applications (DiGA).
Why is the role of developers a point of discussion?
The discussion highlights that many free apps are funded by healthcare players or the pharmaceutical industry, raising concerns about the impartiality and trustworthiness of the information provided to users.
What role does the "digital divide" play in this study?
The author discusses how a lack of financial resources or technological affinity among older or disadvantaged groups poses an equality problem, as these individuals are effectively excluded from the benefits of modern health apps.
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- Cesca Berg (Autor:in), 2021, Health Apps and their Positive and Negative Aspects. An Ethical Perspective, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1151366
