Mapping the Mobile Health Applications Landscape: A Cluster-Based Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v104i09.6755Keywords:
mobile health applications, healthcare delivery, chronic disease management, systematic review, technology acceptance, healthcare outcomesAbstract
Introduction-Aim: Mobile health applications (MHAs) have become essential components of modern healthcare systems worldwide. Despite their growing adoption, a comprehensive global synthesis integrating clinical outcomes, adoption factors, and regional distribution of MHA research remains lacking. This review provides a systematic, cluster-based global perspective on MHAs by examining research trends, typologies, and regional disparities across peer-reviewed literature published from 2015 to 2023.
Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed using search terms including "mobile health," "mHealth," and "mobile health applications," restricted to peer-reviewed English-language
publications. After screening 1,430 identified records, 229 studies were included in the final synthesis. Thematic cluster analysis was performed using VOSviewer to identify and visualize key research clusters.
Results: Three main thematic clusters were identified: (1) Clinical interventions and outcomes, demonstrating positive effects of MHAs on chronic disease management, patient adherence, and healthcare costs, notably in diabetes, hypertension, and asthma; (2) Psychological and social factors, highlighting the critical role of user-centered design, perceived usefulness (TAM), and social influence (UTAUT) in driving MHA adoption; and (3) Technology and development, addressing interoperability challenges, data security concerns, and device accessibility. MHA typologies span clinical diagnostics, disease management, health promotion, telemedicine, and clinical reference tools. The United States leads in research output, followed by Europe and Asia, while Latin America and Africa remain significantly underrepresented.
Conclusion: MHAs hold significant potential to bridge global healthcare gaps, particularly in resource-limited settings. Standardizing clinical trial protocols, improving user-centered design, strengthening data security, and fostering research in underrepresented regions are critical priorities for researchers, developers, and policymakers advancing equitable healthcare delivery through mobile technologies.
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