mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach.

Background: Mental disorders are complex diseases that affect 28% (about 17.8 million people) of the adult population in Germany annually. Since 2020, certain mobile health (mHealth) apps, so-called digital health applications (DiGA), are reimbursable in the German statutory health insurance system.

Quality assessment of mHealth apps: a scoping review.

Introduction: The number of mHealth apps has increased rapidly during recent years. Literature suggests a number of problems and barriers to the adoption of mHealth apps, including issues such as validity, usability, as well as data privacy and security. Continuous quality assessment and assurance systems might help to overcome these barriers.

Corrigendum: Integration of digital health applications into the German healthcare system: development of "The DiGA-Care Path".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2024.

Problems and Barriers Related to the Use of mHealth Apps From the Perspective of Patients: Focus Group and Interview Study.

Background: Since fall 2020, mobile health (mHealth) apps have become an integral part of the German health care system. The belief that mHealth apps have the potential to make the health care system more efficient, close gaps in care, and improve the economic outcomes related to health is unwavering and already partially confirmed. Nevertheless, problems and barriers in the context of mHealth apps usually remain unconsidered.

Integration of digital health applications into the German healthcare system: development of "The DiGA-Care Path".

Introduction: Since 2019 people who have insured in the German statutory health insurance are entitled to use certified apps called the Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen [Digital Health Applications (DiGAs)]. The prerequisite for this is that an app certified as DiGA and suitable for their diagnosis exists. The DiGA can then either be prescribed by a physician or psychotherapist or requested by the patient from the statutory health insurance fund.