In our last post, we have showed you the framework of the Apple ResearchKit and how to use it to build YOUR App.
In this blog we will be talking about how the Apps that are built with the Apple ResearchKit, communicates with other apps and how it is stored in the database.
There are 3 “Apple’s health elements” that we need to understand in building App with the Apple ResearchKit and how it would communicate with third party devices and other Apps (this is not to be confused with the 3 modules that make up the Apple ResearchKit-see last post). The Table below explains the Apple ResearchKit, the HealthKit and the Health App.
A user’s health information is stored in a centralized and secure location (The centralized location is actually on the smartphone. That data is not available to other devices-only other apps on the same device i.e. user permissions notwithstanding) and the user decides which data should be shared (or not shared) with your app.
Figure 1 explain in graphical format how these 3 elements work together.
Figure 1: How the HealthKit interacts with Apps
If you have an app that is designed to provide health and fitness services and would like your app to share data with the new Health app, you are able to do so, provided the users (consumers, patients or clinical subjects) gives their consent. Note that it is possible to build eConsent app via the Apple ResearchKit for this.
If you have a wearable technology that would be used for healthcare/clinical study/medical research/fitness that work with health and fitness apps, then the app can be built via the Apple ResearchKit. For existing wearable technologies that already has an App to compliment it, the HealthKit allows these other apps (that provide health/fitness services) to share their data with the new Health app (which is already on the iPhone) and with each other.
You can build your app with the Apple ResearchKit framework (this is open sourced and get be viewed at the open sourced website and the GitHub site). Once you have finalized the outcome of YOUR health App that you want to build or your medical/clinical study, you would identify app developers that can help you build your research app. In which case, FirstApp can provide that for you. You need to work with a trusted and credible team who has extensive experience in developing apps specifically for medical research and healthcare or clinical trials, who can consult you on each technical bit that you would need and what scientific data that can and needs to be captured.
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