Evaluating the effects of mobile health interventions in the emergency department to improve patient health behaviors: a literature review.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

Mobile health (mHealth) has emerged as an innovative and cost-effective tool for enhancing patient education, reinforcing user engagement, and improving continuity of care. While the utility is well documented in outpatient settings, its implementation within emergency departments (ED) remains an emerging field that may help alleviate unique acute care challenges. This is particularly important because EDs often serve as a safety net and the only point of healthcare access for underserved populations, meaning that successful digital integration could significantly bridge gaps by which ED-based interventions aid in preventative care. This review aimed to evaluate the effect of digital health interventions on the health of ED patients.

METHODS

This study was a narrative review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating mHealth interventions in the ED and their effects on health behaviors. Three primary databases were used to scan the literature: PubMed, Scopus, and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies were limited to a 10-year span between January 2014-2024, set in the United States, and focused on health outcomes.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS: Twenty-one studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed and categorized across five domains: (I) substance use, (II) sexual health, (III) chronic disease and medication adherence, (IV) linkage to care and (V) injury prevention and safety. Text and app-based interventions were common (86%). They showed moderate effects on behaviors such as reducing binge drinking and improving medication adherence, though results for hemoglobin A1c and asthma morbidity were mixed. Interventions that were bidirectional, culturally tailored, or rooted in behavioral change theory presented greater success in affecting outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

mHealth in the ED offers an innovative strategy to promote health equity by enhancing patient education and improving scientific and patient-centered health outcomes. Current literature mainly focuses on interventions with shorter-term follow-up; future directives should focus on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness and how to efficiently implement digital interventions into the unique ED setting.