Smart phone apps: Smart patients, steer clear

Smart phones are having an impact on how we conduct many aspects of modern clinical practice. For the practicing clinician, smart phones applications, or apps, may facilitate faster communication, more efficient organisation and rapid access to information. However, concerns have been expressed regarding the widespread use of these unregulated apps. To date, a matter of grave concern related to the use of medical apps has been neglected. Patients, with increasing frequency, are presenting to their doctor armed with the questionable medical opinion of these apps. This has far reaching practice implications. Patient education regarding the unregulated and potentially harmful content of these apps is crucial. Do they really facilitate patient empowerment or are they merely exploiting an age-old truth—that nothing is more lucrative than selling reassurance to the fearful?