Mobile healthcare tools can help military veterans better cope with critical and life-changing medical challenges, from physical injuries to mental health conditions, according to new research published at the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

The study — which included personnel challenged with behavior health problems, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder — was looking to assess patient engagement with mHealth apps. Participants were asked to complete daily questionnaires over a 36-week period regarding the use of an Army-developed messaging app called mCare.

Results indicate that veterans with behavioral health issues had the longest response time in messaging use, and that those with fewer health issues responded faster, and provided greater feedback. Overall engagement with mCare indicated more use than the average American’s adoption of mHealth apps.

“The sustained response to the questionnaires suggests engagement,” the study’s authors said. “With a few exceptions, service members engaged with mCare irrespective of health status. Mobile health has the potential to increase the quantity and quality of patient-provider communications in a community-based, rehabilitation care setting, above that of standard care.”

Results indicate that veterans with behavioral health issues had the longest response time in messaging use.Going forward, the study authors will be looking to investigate treatment differences in health outcomes with relation to mCare use versus traditional care team interaction. Also, they will be testing specific aspects of mCare viability, including pain and goal awareness with regard to wounded service personnel and chronic care management.

The mCare app initially was developed in 2011 to provide users with health tips, appointment reminders and notices of new content on medical issues.

[Via: FierceMobileHealthcare]