PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Smartphone use has increased dramatically and, in parallel, a market for mobile apps, including health apps, has emerged. The business model of targeted mobile app advertisements allows for the collection of personal and potentially sensitive information, often without user knowledge. Older adults comprise a rapidly growing demographic that is potentially vulnerable to exploitation by those accessing data collected via these apps.
OBJECTIVE: This research examined apps that claimed to be useful to older adults with a goal of (1) classifying the functionality of each app, (2) identifying whether a privacy policy existed and was accessible, and (3) evaluating evidence that could support claims of value to older adults.
METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted using the Google search engine and typing \"apps for older adults.\" The first 25 sites that this search returned comprised the primary data for this study. Data were organized by descriptive features of purpose (eg, health, finance, and utility), the existence of an electronically accessible privacy policy, price, and evidence supporting each recommended mobile app.
RESULTS: A total of 133 mobile apps were identified and promoted as being the best \"apps for older adults.\" Of these 133 mobile apps, 83% (n=110) included a privacy policy. Fewer apps designated in the \"medical\" category included a privacy policy than those classified otherwise.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that most mobile apps targeting older adults include a privacy policy. Research is needed to determine whether these privacy policies are readable, succinct, and incorporate accessible data use and sharing practices to mitigate potential risks, particularly when collecting potentially sensitive health information.
OBJECTIVE: This research examined apps that claimed to be useful to older adults with a goal of (1) classifying the functionality of each app, (2) identifying whether a privacy policy existed and was accessible, and (3) evaluating evidence that could support claims of value to older adults.
METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted using the Google search engine and typing \"apps for older adults.\" The first 25 sites that this search returned comprised the primary data for this study. Data were organized by descriptive features of purpose (eg, health, finance, and utility), the existence of an electronically accessible privacy policy, price, and evidence supporting each recommended mobile app.
RESULTS: A total of 133 mobile apps were identified and promoted as being the best \"apps for older adults.\" Of these 133 mobile apps, 83% (n=110) included a privacy policy. Fewer apps designated in the \"medical\" category included a privacy policy than those classified otherwise.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that most mobile apps targeting older adults include a privacy policy. Research is needed to determine whether these privacy policies are readable, succinct, and incorporate accessible data use and sharing practices to mitigate potential risks, particularly when collecting potentially sensitive health information.
摘要：
背景：智能手机的使用急剧增加，并行,移动应用市场，包括健康应用，出现了。有针对性的移动应用程序广告的商业模式允许收集个人和潜在的敏感信息，通常没有用户知识。老年人构成了快速增长的人口，可能容易受到通过这些应用程序访问数据的人的利用。
目标：这项研究调查了声称对老年人有用的应用程序，其目标是（1）对每个应用程序的功能进行分类，（2）识别隐私政策是否存在并且可以访问，（3）评估可以支持老年人价值主张的证据。
方法：使用Google搜索引擎并键入“针对老年人的应用程序”进行了环境扫描。这项搜索返回的前25个网站包含了这项研究的主要数据。数据按目的的描述性特征进行组织(例如，健康,金融,和效用)，存在电子可访问的隐私政策，价格,和支持每个推荐的移动应用程序的证据。
结果：共有133个移动应用程序被确定并推广为适合老年人的最佳应用程序。在这133个移动应用程序中，83％（n=110）包含隐私政策。与其他分类的应用程序相比，“医疗”类别中指定的应用程序包含的隐私政策较少。
结论：结果表明，大多数针对老年人的移动应用程序都包含隐私政策。需要研究以确定这些隐私政策是否可读，简洁,并纳入可访问的数据使用和共享实践，以减轻潜在风险，特别是在收集潜在敏感的健康信息时。
目标：这项研究调查了声称对老年人有用的应用程序，其目标是（1）对每个应用程序的功能进行分类，（2）识别隐私政策是否存在并且可以访问，（3）评估可以支持老年人价值主张的证据。
方法：使用Google搜索引擎并键入“针对老年人的应用程序”进行了环境扫描。这项搜索返回的前25个网站包含了这项研究的主要数据。数据按目的的描述性特征进行组织(例如，健康,金融,和效用)，存在电子可访问的隐私政策，价格,和支持每个推荐的移动应用程序的证据。
结果：共有133个移动应用程序被确定并推广为适合老年人的最佳应用程序。在这133个移动应用程序中，83％（n=110）包含隐私政策。与其他分类的应用程序相比，“医疗”类别中指定的应用程序包含的隐私政策较少。
结论：结果表明，大多数针对老年人的移动应用程序都包含隐私政策。需要研究以确定这些隐私政策是否可读，简洁,并纳入可访问的数据使用和共享实践，以减轻潜在风险，特别是在收集潜在敏感的健康信息时。
