Abstract
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Background
The smartphone, nowadays, is a basic tool for communication and information retrieval. With a wide range of sensors and the possibility of installing additional applications, its functionality can be extended and modified. Because of all that it is perceived as a potential tool for preventive medicine among much other mobile health (mHealth) applications (Kankanhalli, Shin, & Oh, 2019).
This may be potentially beneficial for both well-being and health condition of individual users and the public health system (Krishna, Boren, & Balas, 2009). Nowadays, most of the research is focused on how mHealt may be used for health care and preventive medicine for the elderly. One of the major issues for mHealt solution for the elderly is a technology gap. But young adults, the Z generation, are considered to be digital natives, for whom a smartphone is an essential device and part of everyday equipment (Azhar & Dhillon, 2016). For this reason, it is much easier to use this technology for preventive medicine in this group (Gowin at al, 2019; Patel, Asch, & Volpp, 2015).
Objective
The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of the literature on the phenomenon of using a smartphone for preventive medicine in a group of young adults. The author intends to synthesize the studies devoted to this matter and map out their findings in regard to indicate possible factors of habit changes.
Research design and methods
A systematic review conducted in terms of papers indexed in Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE. A scoping literature search to identify relevant papers published between 2010 and 2020 with the use of the following keywords in combination: smartphone*, cell phone*, iphone*, mobile app*, ehealth, mhealth, health prevention, preventive medicine, preventative healthcare, preventative medicine, young adult*. The collected material (946 articles) are analysed with the qualitative data analysis methods - by using MaxQda software. A narrative synthesis of all studies is being undertaken.
Findings
The author’s intention is to indicate the essential nodal elements – institutional factors for habits change – for the process of popularizing the use of smartphones in preventive medicine among young adults according to: a) potential areas of usage, b) young adults habits, c) obstacles in the popularization of mHealth.
Implications / Recommendations
The author goal is to develop a systematic summary of the current state of knowledge in relation to preventive medicine among the young adults' group.
References
Azhar, F. A. B., & Dhillon, J. S. (2016). A systematic review of factors influencing the effective use of mHealth apps for self-care (s. 191–196). IEEE.
Gowin, M., Wilkerson, A., Maness, S., Larson, D. J., Crowson, H. M., Smith, M., & Cheney, M. K. (2019). Wearable Activity Tracker Use in Young Adults Through the Lens of Social Cognitive Theory. American Journal of Health Education, 50(1), 40–51.
Kankanhalli, A., Shin, J., & Oh, H. (2019). Mobile-Based Interventions for Dietary Behavior Change and Health Outcomes: Scoping Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 7(1), e11312.
Krishna, S., Boren, S. A., & Balas, E. A. (2009). Healthcare via Cell Phones: A Systematic Review. Telemedicine and e-Health, 15(3), 231–240.
Patel, M. S., Asch, D. A., & Volpp, K. G. (2015). Wearable Devices as Facilitators, Not Drivers, of Health Behavior ChangeWearable Devices and Health Behavior ChangeWearable Devices and Health Behavior Change. JAMA, 313(5), 459–460.
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