Health apps are playing an increasingly important role in our everyday lives - they help us to optimise our diet, track our exercise and support our mental health. But how can you recognise a trustworthy health app? In the latest episode of the ‘Gesund Informiert’ podcast, AIT expert Angelika Rzepka from the Digital Health Team at the Centre for Health and Bioresources explains what is important when choosing an app and how you can protect yourself and your data.
The market for health apps is growing rapidly and offers a wide range of options for monitoring and promoting health. But as the number of apps grows, so does the uncertainty: how can I be sure that an app will protect my data? Which apps really offer sound information and which are primarily used for commercial purposes?
Angelika Rzepka from the AIT Centre for Health and Bioresources talks about this issue in the podcast. She emphasises that many users often unknowingly install health apps without taking a close look at the terms and conditions or data protection. ‘Many people simply click ‘next’ without knowing what happens to their data,’ warns Rzepka.
Tips for the safe use of health apps
To support users, the AIT has developed a checklist. It is based on the evaluation of 40 health apps and helps to recognise trustworthy apps more easily. The checklist can be completed online or downloaded as a PDF and offers clear criteria for evaluating apps.
Angelika Rzepka emphasises in the podcast that it is important to know the purpose of the app before downloading it. Users should consciously ask themselves what data the app collects and how it is used. It makes sense to weigh up the benefits of the app against the potential risks of data processing. Another criterion: ‘Make sure there is an imprint and a privacy policy,’ advises Rzepka. If these are not available, it is better not to use the app.
More digital expertise for the future
Digital health literacy is becoming increasingly important and tools such as the checklist developed by AIT are an essential step in supporting users. ‘With the checklist, we want to enable people to make informed decisions about their health apps,’ emphasises Angelika Rzepka. In the future, digital solutions will play an increasingly important role in healthcare, so it is crucial to pay attention to safety and quality.
You can find the full episode of the ‘Gesund Informiert’ podcast at:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KtBlZuSAHvaz1EKZZvK5c
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qNdld7O_Qo
Youtube Music: https://music.youtube.com/podcast/-qNdld7O_Qo
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/58-gesundheits-apps-worauf-soll-ich-achten/id1589916738?i=1000670853391