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Evaluation and characterization of testosterone-related mobile health applications

International Journal of Impotence Research (2023)Cite this article

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The digital age has provided patients with immediate access to a broad range of health-related information and services. Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) are a primary avenue for patients to obtain health-related information and services, and the ubiquity of these apps represents a dynamic shift in how individuals, perceive, manage, and interact with their own health. However, the open platform and lack of regulation in the app ecosystem pose potential risks for both intentional and unintentional dissemination of misinformation. Existing literature has established significant concerns regarding the dissemination of misinformation on social media pertaining to men’s health topics [1]. In the realm of men’s health, this is further complicated by the concurrent rise in the popularity of direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms [2]. Testosterone replacement therapy is a popular focus among these platforms and has become increasingly prescribed despite evidence that these platforms provide guideline-discordant care [3]. Given the increased demand for DTC therapies, testosterone-related mobile apps have seen a surge in popularity through recent years though their impact to date has yet to be studied. We sought to characterize the landscape of testosterone-related apps to understand the availability, scope, content, and accuracy of information/recommendations contained therein.

In February 2023, a keyword search of “testosterone” was conducted in the Apple® App Store. Two authors (JAA, JMD) independently verified and cataloged the 52 results by app store category and language. Non-English apps (n = 7) and apps not under the “health and fitness”, “medical”, “education”, or “lifestyle” categories (n = 22) were excluded, resulting in 23 apps for final analysis.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Jonathan A. Aguiar, Joshua A. Halpern, Solomon Hayon & Robert E. Brannigan

  2. Department of Urology, Memorial Healthcare System, Aventura, FL, 33180, USA

    Justin M. Dubin

Authors
  1. Jonathan A. Aguiar
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  2. Joshua A. Halpern
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  3. Solomon Hayon
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  4. Robert E. Brannigan
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  5. Justin M. Dubin
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Contributions

All authors meet the journal’s criteria for authorship, including (1) conceived and/or designed the work that led to the submission, acquired data, and/or played an important role in interpreting the results; (2) drafted or revised the manuscript; (3) approved the final version; and (4) agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Jonathan A. Aguiar.

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Aguiar, J.A., Halpern, J.A., Hayon, S. et al. Evaluation and characterization of testosterone-related mobile health applications. Int J Impot Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00739-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00739-9

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