Merck Manuals releases mobile apps for clinicians, consumers

Reference work responds to demand for trusted medical content accessed via smartphone.


The famous Merck Manuals are no longer bound to the paper page.

The highly regarded source of medical information for medical professionals and the general public is now available in a set of mobile apps.

One of the world's most widely used medical resources since 1899, Merck Manuals now have been released as Consumer and Professional mobile apps. Through that redesigned format, users will have access to thousands of in-depth articles, videos, animations and other resources without the need for an internet connection.

Changes came to the reference, published as a book for decades, on the heels of an online survey highlighting the need for readily accessible medical information. The survey, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Merck Manuals, revealed that one in 10 Americans has wanted to access medical information on a mobile device but were not able to because they did not have internet access.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that 54 percent of respondents who own a smartphone or tablet would be more likely to search for medical information on their mobile device if they knew the content was credible. Respondents would also be more likely to search if they can access content without needing to provide personal information (50 percent), without registering for the site or app (45 percent), without seeing any advertising (39 percent), and without needing internet access (23 percent).

The Merck Manuals apps contain a comprehensive library of reference articles on diseases, symptoms and treatments, plus more than 800 photos and illustrations. Once the app is downloaded, this content is stored on the device and accessible without an internet connection. Over 200 additional animations and videos are also available to download to the app for offline viewing. When an internet connection is available, the apps have online-only content that features continually updated medical news, interactive quizzes and drug reference information.

Following the Merck Manuals' transition from a medical textbook to an all-digital platform in 2015, the launch of these new apps is the next step in Global Medical Knowledge 2020, the Manuals' mission to make the best current medical information freely accessible to nearly 3 billion consumers and healthcare professionals by 2020.

Both mobile apps are available in the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play Store.

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