Research participants who collect their data in an mHealth app might want to also share this data with family members, caregivers, or clinicians to make informed care decisions. If an mHealth app does not allow participants to easily share this data, the participant can feel as though their data is trapped on their phone, isolated from their other health records, and not useful to anyone other than the mHealth research team.

mHealth apps that offer return of results usually only provide raw data files. However, participants might not have control over what data they want included and shared. These files are also difficult to import into Electronic Health Record systems, and are not formatted so that participants, family members, and clinicians can interpret the data in a meaningful way.

Including a private share link feature gives participants the option to simply and securely share their health data outside of the mHealth app. This feature allows participants to choose what data to share, with whom, and when. Linking to this data, formatted in a way that is easy to read and interpret, gives the participant and their family members, friends, and clinicians access to potentially meaningful health insights.