This review was conducted following a protocol that was established before its initiation.

Once the search was conducted, we implemented rigorous screening criteria to narrow down the results. Our selection process focused on mobile-based health apps that provided structured guidance for snakebite management, including both first aid and treatment protocols. The publication year did not matter as long as the study was related to the subject matter. However, only resources published in English were included for better understanding and interpretation. Although studies in languages other than English were excluded due to resource constraints, we acknowledge this may omit regionally relevant interventions. Future reviews should prioritize multilingual searches to enhance inclusivity.

A systematic search was initially conducted in PubMed, followed by Google Scholar and ResearchGate, aiming to identify diverse digital interventions addressing snakebite management. Additionally, we expanded our search to leverage Google Search and the Google Play Store to identify relevant mobile apps. To capture region-specific apps, we prioritized Google Play Store searches in countries with high snakebite incidence (eg, India) using localized keywords.

We used a specific set of keywords relevant to our topic, such as “mobile based health applications,” “digital health interventions,” “telemedicine,” “smartphone apps,” “telehealth,” “remote healthcare,” “snakebite management,” “snakebite apps,” and “snake protection apps.” Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) were systematically applied to ensure more specific combinations, thereby including everything that contributed to our literature evaluation.

Duplicate records were identified and manually cross-checked by 2 independent reviewers. Interreviewer reliability was ensured through regular discussions and consensus-building sessions during screening. Exclusion criteria included studies other than English-language resources, studies not directly related to snakebite management, and apps lacking clinical guidance.

This involved gathering detailed information about each app, including operating system compatibility, access models (free or paid), geographical deployment, key functionalities, and user interface features. Our analysis paid particular attention to the comprehensive offerings of the apps, such as snake species identification, first aid instructions, and emergency hospital locator functions. Three region-locked apps (eg, SARPA [Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App] Kerala) required VPN verification for access, reflecting potential regional availability biases.

The data items displayed various characteristics of the mobile-based health app interventions, such as the nature of the intervention (eg, mobile app, telemedicine), accessibility (iOS, Android, or both), target user demographics, functionalities (eg, first aid guidance, hospital mapping), and reported outcomes (eg, user engagement, effectiveness in snakebite management). Each variable was clearly defined to facilitate accurate data collection and analysis.

A narrative approach was conducted to summarize the key findings related to mobile-based health app interventions for snakebite management. A table and a figure were used to enhance the clarity and accessibility of the findings, providing a comprehensive overview of the interventions identified in the review. Consistent with scoping review objectives under PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines [11], our focus was on mapping evidence rather than appraising study quality. This approach aligns with similar reviews evaluating digital health tools in low-resource settings.

This article explores various mobile-based health apps that could be beneficial in the prevention and management of snakebite cases. We found that India has the majority of these apps and that the apps largely support Android platforms. The majority of average user ratings were above 3.5.

A striking 75% (n=12) of the apps were developed for the Indian context, reflecting local innovation but neglecting high-risk regions like sub-Saharan Africa. For example, ASI Snakes (South Africa) was the sole app addressing African snake species, limiting its utility in neighboring countries. This regional skew mirrors broader disparities in snakebite research and resource allocation, where low-income countries receive <5% of global funding for antivenom development. To align with the WHO’s 2030 targets, app development must prioritize underrepresented regions through partnerships with local health systems.

Our findings reveal that 85% of the reviewed apps (eg, SARPA, SnakeSnap!) require internet connectivity for critical functionalities such as photo-based snake identification and real-time guidance. Although urban users praised these features, rural populations, where 60% lack reliable internet access, reported significant usability challenges. For instance, in Odisha, India, only 20% of snakebite victims could access app-based guidance during emergencies due to connectivity gaps.

User feedback highlighted a paradox: while 88% praised apps like SARPA for real-time guidance (4.5/5 rating), 40% of rural users cited connectivity issues and outdated interfaces. Similar challenges were observed in Kerala, where users abandoned apps during monsoons due to signal loss. Although user ratings are generally high, they do not account for nonusers who may be unable to use the apps, potentially skewing the overall assessment. Additionally, these findings emphasize the importance of iterative design—integrating offline maps, lightweight user interfaces, and periodic updates—to retain user engagement in resource-limited settings. In the case of health care professionals, using digital interventions effectively and accepting the technology was a major barrier. Overburdened rural clinicians (managing ≥100 patients per shift) may lack the time for real-time app use during emergencies, positioning apps as preemptive training tools rather than crisis aids.

Although traditional methods like tourniquets and herbal treatments are accessible to 85% of rural populations, they are associated with a 30% risk of complications due to misinformation. In contrast, apps like SARPA reduce misdiagnosis rates by 40% but require smartphones, which only 20% of rural households own. For instance, 68% of rural Indian victims first consult traditional healers, delaying antivenom administration by 2‐6 hours. Hybrid models—combining community training on apps and traditional first aid—may bridge this gap.

Only 2 (12%) apps (Snake Helpline and SARPA) supported regional dialects like Odia, despite 70% of Indian snakebite victims residing in non–English-speaking communities. In West Bengal, 65% of users misunderstood app instructions due to language barriers, exacerbating delays in care. Future interventions must adopt hyperlocal languages and audiovisual aids to bridge literacy gaps, as demonstrated by ASI Snakes’ success in Africa through multilingual first aid videos.

However, deploying digital solutions in snakebite-prone regions faces systemic challenges. Rural areas often lack reliable internet connectivity and electricity, hindering app usability. Low digital literacy among the general population and health care workers further complicates adoption, while cost constraints limit access to advanced technologies like AI or telemedicine. These barriers underscore the need for context-specific, scalable interventions aligned with local infrastructure and user capabilities.

This scoping review has followed a systematic and robust search to identify the available mobile-based apps for the prevention and management of snakebite cases. A key limitation of this study is the absence of a quality assessment, which was not conducted due to the heterogeneous nature of the available records.

This review extends previously published research, which has noted the lack of attention to snakebite management in the context of global health agendas and their contribution and the potential of digital health solutions. Previous studies have indicated that SBE is a significant public health problem, especially in rural, poorly accessible areas. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have promoted telemedicine and mobile apps as potentially useful tools to help improve the management of snakebites. However, this review goes a step further than previous research by performing a thorough evaluation of individual mobile-based health apps and their features, highlighting their possible role in enhancing snakebite outcomes through education and timely medical care.

Apart from these digital health apps, we should also consider other possible interventions including the following:

Despite its importance to public health, snakebite is a growing problem, particularly in rural areas of the world where access to health care is limited. The incidence rate is high, with unacceptably elevated mortality rates, especially in India. To address this neglected tropical disease, digital health interventions offer promising solutions. Mobile-based health apps can aid in snake identification, facilitate remote telemedicine consultations, and provide centralized databases of treatment information. However, several challenges and limitations must be addressed, such as accessibility issues in remote regions, concerns about the reliability and accuracy of digital tools, and the ethical considerations surrounding telemedicine. Integrating AI, promoting collaborative data sharing, and informing policy will be crucial to maximizing the impact of digital interventions in snakebite management and ultimately reducing mortality rates by 2030. Although these apps show promise for education and awareness, their real-time clinical impact hinges on addressing infrastructural and socioeconomic barriers. To achieve the WHO’s 2030 targets, policymakers must mandate app features like offline modes, regional language support, and integration with local health systems. Public-private partnerships could subsidize costs, while community training programs could enhance digital literacy, ensuring equitable access to life-saving tools.