Technical Brief Number 41. Evidence-Based Practice Centers Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) May 2022 [[Evaluation of Mental Health Mobile Applications.pdf]] ---- **Implications/action/Takeaway? 1. **Appendix F - Administrative Questionnaire.** 1. **As we develop our product, to go through the questionnaire and meet those categories.**** --- Purpose: 1. Propose a framework to assess mental health app with the aim to facilitate selection of apps. They took all the other frameworks, reorganised the questions, added their own questions, came out with a new framework. **Framework to Assist Stakeholders in Technology Evaluation for Recovery (FASTER)** FDA Classification (Software as a Medical Device SaMD) - Class 1 - Low to moderate risk - Class 2 - Moderate to high risk to patient and user, example, computerised CBT for psychiatric disorders. Prescription needed. - Class 3 - Devices that have high risk to users. Devices usually sustain or support life. - 11 Existing frameworks, abstracted the items. - Apps that have potential to cause harm need to be maintained. if suddenly discontinued or lack of updates will be harmful. - Features in the app can be used across multiple health conditions, so not useful to categorise according to diagnosis. ## Gaps in Existing Frameworks - Most framework had common criteria assessing: - Credibility, Safety, Available Features, Accessibility Features, Clinical evidence Foundation, Interoperability, Usability, Efficacy, Data Privacy and Security - Gaps: - Risk and Credibility - Potential risks posed by app - Vulnerable Populations - explain how data/features are design to safeguard. Any cost involved, what kind of checks designed. - Accessibility Features - made distinguished between accessibility features that are designed within the app, or part of the device's accessibility options - Cultural Sensitivity - Is the app targeted at specific groups or inclusive.. - Artificial Intelligence - Existing framework does not assess whether AI/machine learning have been used, and how accuracy/validity. - Mental Health Features and Function - did not provide a list of features There is a list of questions to assess the different area, such as safety, evidence, risk assessments...