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Introduction
see also Apple iPad for physicians & Apple iPhone4 for physicians
Android <http://www.android.com/> is an open-source operating system for mobile devices (e.g. smart phones, tablets) which was developed by the Open Handset Alliance and led by Google. Android is a competitor to the iOS operating system developed by Apple for their iPhone, iPad and iPod devices. It offers a touch-based multimedia user interface and an application "market" that competes with Apple's "App Store." As Android is open-source and developed by a consortium any hardware developer can create devices that run the Android OS and any software developers can create apps for Android devices without paying for developer licenses or seeking permissions. Android is thus considered more "open" than iOS and Android devices come in a wider range of hardware formats and price points.
Android for Medicine
There are a large number of Andoid applications classed as "medical" and available in the Andoid Market. The following list is not meant to be exhaustive or constitute an endorsement of any particular app. For high quality reviews of mobile applications for medical professionals see iMedicalApps.
Clinical Apps
- Epocrates RX
 - Simple, clean, easy to use interface. Access via browsing or search. Also available for iOS and Blackberry devices. Basic drug reference is free. Other reference products available via subscription (free one month trial available).
- Drug reference, including OTC drugs. Organized by drug classes. Interaction checker and Pill ID.
- Disease Reference: Summaries of conditions, including: highlights & basic information, Hx/Exam, Tests, Treatment Options, Differential Diagnosis, Follow-up, Complications, Images, Citations, and News.
- Infectious Diseases reference: browse by System, Organism, or Organism Class.
- Lab Tests: Includes information on Interpretation, Reference Ranges, Prep and Collection procedures, Cost and notes.
- Calculators, tables
- Eponyms - Short descriptions of over 1700 medical eponyms with links to Google and Wikipedia search. Clean and simple user interface organized by categories based on systems and specialties. Data is from Andrew Yee's Medical Eponym Page.
- Lexicomp - Paid products with free trial - A suite of medical information products, including point-of-care tools, reference sources (Lexi-Drugs, Infectious Deseases, Natural Products, etc.) and textbooks (Stedman's, Harrison's Practice, 5-Minute Clinical Consult, etc.). Each product/database can be purchased individually. A wealth of information but poor design and lack of search functionality limits usefulness.
- MPR: Monthly Prescribing Reference - Prescription and OTC drug reference. Free. Access via browsing and search. Nice, clear interface. Information is not as comprehensive as many tools and databases.
- Organized by target system and diseases.
- Basic information: legal and pharmacological class, manufacturer, general description, indications, recommended dosage, contraindications, warnings & precautions, interactions, format. Limited number of medical calculators.
- Medscape (by WebMD) - Nicely designed suite of medical information products. Simple and easy to use interface. Free. Includes:
- Drugs, OTCs & Herbals: Dosing, indications, adverse effects, contraindications & warnings, pregnancy and lactation, brands and costs, pharmacology. Includes interaction checker.
- Diseases & Conditions: Organized by specialty. Includes: overview, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, workup, treatment & management, and medications
- Procedures & Protocols: Overview of topics by category or clinical specialty. Includes categories such as overview, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, treatment & management, medication and follow-up.
- Medical news, Eduction, & Directory
- Directory of physicians, pharmacies: American only.
- QxMD - A collection of medical calculators. Free. Access is via categories (e.g. Cardiology, Emergency, Pediatrics, etc.] or search. Nice, clean interface.
- Skyscape - - Free and paid suite of medical information products. Searchable.
- MedAlert (free): News alerts by specialty. Nicely designed reading environment.
- Archimedes (free): 100+ basic medical calculators.
- RxDrugs: (free) Standard prescription and OTC drug reference. Extensive information. Includes Canadian specific content.
- Oulines in Clinical medicine: (free) Overviews of diseases, symptoms and signs. Search-able.
- Store: (paid): Large collection of medical tools and information resources, including: Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy, ACP PIER Database, Fitzpatrick's Atlas, Harrison's Manual of Medicine, Harriet Lane Handbook, etc.
Research Apps
- EBSCOhost Mobile for Android and iOS
- Early stage of development. Access is via institutional subscription. Once authenticated allows full access from any network.
- Full-text access and ability to download PDF files to device.
- Nice user interface. Limited by lack of advanced search.
- Includes access (Via UBC) to: Ageline, Biomedical Reference Collection: Comprehensive, CINAHL with Full Text, Medline with Full Text, Mental Measurements Yearbook, PsychARTICLES, PsychBOOKS, PsychINFO, PsychEXTRA.
- SciVerse ScienceDirect
- provides access via institutional subscription
- once authenticated allows full access from any network
- Full-text access
Other Android web pathfinders
References
- Franko OI. Smartphone apps for orthopaedic surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011 Jul;469(7):2042-8.
- Kubben PL. Neurosurgical apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android. Surg Neurol Int. 2010 Dec 22;1:89.
- Wikipedia - Android (operating system)
- Sadasivam RS, Gathibandhe V, Tanik MM, Willig JH. Development of a Point-of-Care HIV/Aids Medication Dosing Support System Using the Android Mobile Platform. J Med Syst. 2010 Nov 6.
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