The use of mobile devices in our everyday lives has increased
massively over the last few years and many of us rely on apps for all
sorts of things, both practical and for entertainment purposes. Among
the many apps available are health and medical apps and there are now
some skin cancer smartphone apps. However there are concerns about the
accuracy of these types of apps and this is something we should consider
carefully if using them.
Even medical professionals are now using apps in the workplace and
there are many of these apps, which are no doubt invaluable. However,
when the average consumer uses such apps there are dangers that they may
not see a doctor when they need to and instead rely too much on what
the app tells them. A new study published online by JAMA Dermatology
and by researchers at the Pittsburgh Medical Center looked into the
accuracy of four skin cancer apps to ascertain their accuracy and
discovered that this varied significantly.
The apps are intended to check moles and establish which ones have
become cancerous melanomas. While the top app impressed, with an
accuracy of 98.1% of the time when identifying cancerous moles, the
accuracy figure of the worst performing app was a shockingly bad 6.8%.
The remaining apps scored an accuracy rate of around 70% but properly
equipped trained dermatologists would be able to identify melanomas on
the first attempt around 90% of the time. However the 70% rate is better
than the detection rate of family doctors with no particular
specialized training in this. Only one of the apps was excellent then,
with two falling some way behind and one being pretty useless.
The dangers of this cannot be underestimated as some consumers may
become too dependent on this sort of app and delay getting specialist
care when necessary, at which point it may be too late. Laura Ferris,
one of the dermatologists who worked on the study said, “If people have a
way to feel better about delaying care, it’s only a matter of time
before a patient is harmed,” according to the WSJ. Although most medical apps
carry a disclaimer and say that that they are intended more for
awareness rather than diagnosis there are many people who choose to
ignore this or simply don’t see it. Smartphone and tablet apps are
unlikely to ever be 100% accurate and while this may not do specific
damage in other spheres, in the world of medicine this could have
drastic repercussions.
We’re really interested to find out the views of our readers on this.
Have you ever used this type of app? If so would you imagine the
result to be accurate or would you also have it checked out by a medical
professional? Maybe you’ve relied on an app result to your own
personal cost? Let us know with your comments.
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