Smartphone Applications for Use in Drug Overdose: A review

As smartphone use increases, the use of applications (apps) regarding healthcare expands. Using medical apps has become commonplace for both medical professionals and the general public. Before apps are used it is important that the information that they deliver is accurate and can be used with confidence. Overdose is a common problem presenting to emergency departments and apps provide an opportunity to provide information to both patients and healthcare professionals regarding initial management.

Smartphone use is increasing amongst healthcare professionals and as a result there are smartphone applications available for a variety of healthcare related tasks. As smartphone use becomes ubiquitous, the general public are likely to access medical information this way. Many healthcare apps have been developed for healthcare professionals and are available to download including dose calculators, reference guides and log books. The ability of an app to act as an interactive tool by making calculations or seeking information ‘on-the-go’ in the clinical environment means it can outperform a traditional computer. Similarly, patients can access information stored on their smartphone and this can be carried with them and accessed when traditional information technology (IT) facilities are not available. Although apps are unique in their ability to perform a specific task in a streamlined way, there is currently no regulation of their content and healthcare professional involvement can be variable.