New App Launched by Doctor Stephen Fiona Magennis

www.independent.ie

(http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/new-app-launched-by-doctor- stephen-34144557.html)

Tuesday 3 November 2015 New app launched by doctor Stephen Fiona Magennis

Dr Steve Kerrigan

A local doctor and senior lecturer in Pharmacology with the Royal College of Surgeons has designed a new smartphone app to provide healthcare information for the general public.

Dr Steve Kerrigan, a native of Drogheda and a past pupil of St Mary's DS, has embarked on a very ambitious outreach project to develop a smartphone app which gives people access to credible health related information with anytime anywhere access.

RCSI MyHealth offers easy access for users to a credible source of health information. The app has been developed by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in conjunction with 16 of Ireland's leading charity organisations.

Dr Kerrigan, who is also a senior lecturer in Pharmacology in the Royal College of Surgeons, has developed the app in order to offer users the opportunity to discreetly search for information relating to specific health conditions.

The information is presented in a clear, focused and organised manner that is easy to understand.

It also provides users with information on where to seek advice and support if they are suffering from a health condition.

Dr Kerrigan said that with 86% of adults in Ireland now having access to an online device, the number of people turning to mobile devices to manage their lives is soaring.

Recent research has found that one in 20 searches using Google was for health-related information and 81% of Irish adults had gone online seeking to self-diagnose, with 46% reporting increased stress or worry as a result of their search 'Often, consulting search engines with health related queries, draws up the worst-case scenario for medical symptoms, which raises anxiety levels and cyberchondria, which is a condition described as the excessive use of internet health sites which fuels health anxiety,' Dr Kerrigan explained.

'RCSI MyHealth can put an end to these worries for people. The app has four easy to use features which provides users with access to information about more than 800 specific health conditions,' he added.

'It also provides a very helpful list of health services in Ireland ranging from emergency contact numbers to support organisations and hospital details.'

For those interested in reading about the latest health news, there are links to up to date health news websites.

The app also includes up to date information on the level of blood supply left in the country for anyone who is thinking of donating blood.

In addition, The app also allows a user to calculate their BMI.

RCSI MyHealth is available free of charge in the Apple App Store and in Google Play.

The app has been developed in consultation with the Asthma Society of Ireland, Aware, Breast Cancer Ireland, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Diabetes Ireland, Epilepsy Ireland, Irish Cancer Society, Irish Heart Foundation, Irish Kidney Association, Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association, Irish Osteoporosis Society, Parkinson's Association of Ireland, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Blood Transfusion Service, The Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland and Shine.

RCSI is ranked among the top 50 most international universities in the world and is focused on education and research.