A major study into the use of mobile phone data as a tool for predicting clinical decisions, came to a scathing conclusion, characterising the practice as "voodoo machine learning". The widespread use of smartphones to collect healthcare data has been thrown into doubt by a couple of recent studies. In some fields, such as the management of chronic diseases and mental health monitoring smartphones have enabled a greater level of patient self-control, and personalised clinical intervention. Success in one area, however, does not imply success in all – especially as smartphone health apps are often rolled out before evidence of their effectiveness has been rigorously analysed. A major study into the use of mobile phone data as a tool for predicting clinical decisions, released in June, came to a scathing conclusion, characterising the practice as "voodoo machine learning".

Studies suggest that relying on your smartphone heart monitor may not be the wisest move. The widespread use of smartphones to collect healthcare data has been thrown into doubt by a couple of recent studies. In some fields -- such as the management of chronic diseases and mental health monitoring smartphones have enabled a greater level of patient self-control, and personalised clinical intervention. Success in one area, however, does not imply success in all – especially as smartphone health apps are often rolled out before evidence of their effectiveness has been rigorously analysed. A major study into the use of mobile phone data as a tool for predicting clinical decisions, released in June, came to a scathing conclusion, characterising the practice as "voodoo machine learning".