Mobile devices are found everywhere worldwide that can be used in various activities/purposes.

It can be loaded with sensors and applications that collect and relay health information, track

individual location, and interact with the user to provide personalized feedback.

A report from the Intercontinental Marketing Services (IMS) Institute for Healthcare

Informatics (2013) evaluated over 40,000 healthcare applications from the United States, Apple

iTunes App Store. Most of these apps focused on diet and exercise and had limited functionality.

Evaluation of the apps is recommended by the IMS Institute for appropriate use, and integration

of the app with other aspects of healthcare.

In other research studies, mobile apps have been successfully used to change health

behavior such as in physical activity and diet, breast health promotion, cystic fibrosis self-

management, and mental health. It also showed that populations of pregnant and parenting

women have strong interest in using their mobile phones to monitor health, diagnose and manage

preeclampsia, and to provide information to mothers that are discharged early.

Mobile apps, based on researches, are user friendly, convenient, and effective in

monitoring and delivering healthcare information, but more work is needed. Even though these

apps developed in fast pace, little data exist on the quality or the scientific basis of application

because these products are often created without input from healthcare professionals, and

scientists who can provide critical knowledge needed to change relevant outcomes.

Partnerships between consumers, healthcare professionals, and technology specialists are

needed to maximize usability, use of evidence, and use of smartphone functions that best identify

needed data and provide interventions that meet the needs and promote the health of everyone.

Lacking any of these partners may compromise the potential of the tool. Nurses are in a unique
position to use and evaluate smartphone functions and apps to educate and communicate with

new mothers and families. Evaluate smartphone interventions to ensure that the best product is

used, data security is addressed, and patient family have given informed consent for use of data.