Transforming emergency care amid adversity: the pivotal role of mobile health applications

Purpose This study systematically reviewed the role of smartphone-based mobile health (mHealth) applications in supporting emergency healthcare delivery in resource-constrained, geographically isolated, and crisis-affected settings. The review addressed fragmented evidence regarding the contribution of mHealth to emergency care efficiency, clinical decision-making, workflow coordination, and implementation readiness. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA framework and guided by the SPIDER tool. Articles published between 2014 and 2024 were retrieved from ScienceDirect, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and BMJ. Sixteen eligible studies were included after screening and quality appraisal. Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis was employed to synthesize qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method evidence. Findings Three overarching themes emerged: the integration of mHealth into emergency services, the impact of mHealth applications on emergency case management, and the implementation challenges during adversity. Findings suggest that smartphone-based mHealth applications may improve communication, triage coordination, remote consultation, patient monitoring, continuity of care, and evidence-based decision-making. However, implementation remains constrained by unstable digital infrastructure, interoperability limitations, cybersecurity concerns, inadequate digital literacy, workflow integration difficulties, and weak regulatory governance. Originality/value This review provides an analytical synthesis of the operational, technological, clinical, and implementation dimensions of smartphone-based mHealth in emergency care. The findings position mHealth not merely as a supplementary tool but as a strategic mechanism for strengthening emergency preparedness, healthcare responsiveness, and system resilience during adversity.