The quality of digital health software: Should we be concerned?

Abstract

The digitalization of healthcare fuelled by advances in technology and the increased prevalence of mobile smart devices and health-related internet of things can offer equitable access to expert-level healthcare globally. Growing demand for telemedicine, mobile health apps, and advanced data analytics have further established their role in a modern information society during the Covid-19 crisis. Digital health is, in essence, powered by software (DHSW), which has to operate in the specific digital health environment characteristics and is therefore highly and intrinsically complex and prone to software defects and faults. Given the lack of standardization regarding DHSW quality, we explored the available reviewed research on this crucial topic in this brief paper, using a synthetic thematic analysis approach. We assert that neither the volume, distribution nor scope of the DHSW quality research content is satisfactory, and significant research gaps exist. Based on the presented evidence, we can only conclude that we should be concerned and that the time to act is now to ensure that the unavoidable increase of usage and prevalence of DHSW will not - in the end - reduce the quality of care due to subpar software and software-based digital health systems.