Skip to content

Medical Fact Checker for Android

Medical Fact Checker (MFC) for Android brings evidence-based medical fact-checking to Android phones and tablets with a modern Material Design 3 interface. Like the iOS version, MFC focuses on answering medical questions and verifying health claims - for comprehensive systematic literature reviews, use the full BM Librarian desktop system.

Coming Soon

The Android version will be submitted to the Google Play Store soon. Check back for the download link.

Requirements

  • Android: 8.0 (Oreo) or later
  • API key from a supported provider (see Obtaining API Keys)
  • Internet connection for API calls and PubMed searches

Getting Started

Installation

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Search for "Medical Fact Checker" or "MedicalFactChecker"
  3. Tap Install
  4. Open the app once installation completes

Medical Fact Checker in Google Play

Initial Setup

  1. Select AI Provider: Choose from Claude, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Mistral, or Groq
  2. Enter API Key: Paste your API key (see Obtaining API Keys)
  3. Configure Budget (recommended): Set spending limits

Android Initial Setup

Interface Overview

The Android app follows Material Design 3 guidelines for a familiar Android experience:

Android Main Interface

  • Bottom Navigation Bar: Switch between Home, History, and Settings
  • FAB (Floating Action Button): Quick access to new fact-check
  • Top App Bar: Context actions and menu

Using the App

Fact-Checking a Medical Claim

  1. Tap the input field or the floating action button
  2. Enter your medical claim

  3. Example: "Metformin reduces cardiovascular mortality in type 2 diabetes patients"

  4. Tap "Check" to start analysis:

  5. Query optimization for PubMed
  6. Literature search across databases
  7. Relevance scoring of results
  8. Evidence extraction and synthesis

  9. Report generation

  10. Review the report:

  11. Verdict: Clear assessment with confidence level
  12. Summary: Easy-to-understand findings
  13. Evidence: Cited passages from peer-reviewed sources
  14. References: Tap to open original articles

Android Fact Check Results

Interpreting Results

Verdict Meaning
Supported Strong evidence supports the claim
Refuted Evidence contradicts the claim
Inconclusive Mixed or conflicting evidence
Insufficient Not enough relevant literature found

Features

Search History

Access your previous fact-checks:

  1. Tap History in the bottom navigation
  2. Browse your previous queries
  3. Tap any entry to view full details
  4. Long-press to delete or share

Android History

Share Results

Share your fact-check results:

  1. View a completed analysis
  2. Tap the Share icon in the top bar
  3. Choose sharing method:
  4. Share as text
  5. Export as PDF
  6. Copy to clipboard

Multiple Search Providers

The app searches multiple literature databases:

  • PubMed: Primary biomedical database (36+ million articles)
  • Europe PMC: European life sciences literature

Toggle providers in Settings based on your needs.

Settings

Access settings via the Settings tab in bottom navigation or menu icon.

AI Provider

Android Provider Settings

  • Provider: Select Claude, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Mistral, or Groq
  • API Key: Enter or update your key
  • Model: Choose model variant

Budget Controls

Manage your API spending:

  • Per-Analysis Limit: Maximum cost per fact-check
  • Monthly Budget: Total monthly cap
  • Reset Date: When monthly counter resets
  • Usage Display: Current spending status

Android Budget Settings

Search Configuration

  • Max Results: Number of articles to retrieve
  • Search Providers: Enable/disable databases
  • HyDE Enhancement: Improve search relevance

Appearance

  • Theme: System default, Light, or Dark
  • Dynamic Color: Use Material You theming (Android 12+)
  • Text Size: Adjust result text size

Security

API Key Storage

Your API key is protected using Android's security features:

  • EncryptedSharedPreferences: Keys are encrypted at rest
  • Keystore Integration: Hardware-backed encryption on supported devices
  • No Cloud Sync: Keys stay on your device

Permissions

The app requests minimal permissions:

Permission Purpose
Internet API calls and literature search
Storage (optional) Save PDF exports

Tips for Best Results

Writing Effective Claims

Specificity Matters

Effective: "Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improves symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder"

Less Effective: "Are omega-3s good for mental health?"

Best Practices

  1. One claim per query: Focus on a single testable statement
  2. Include context: Specify population, condition, or intervention
  3. Use medical terminology: More precise results
  4. Check history: Avoid duplicate searches

Troubleshooting

"Network Error" Message

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Verify you're not using a VPN that blocks the API
  3. Try switching between WiFi and mobile data
  4. Check if the API provider is experiencing issues

"Invalid API Key" Error

  1. Verify the key is entered correctly
  2. Check for extra spaces or line breaks
  3. Ensure billing is set up with your provider
  4. Generate a new key if needed

App Crashes

  1. Force stop and reopen the app
  2. Clear app cache (Settings → Apps → MedicalFactChecker → Clear Cache)
  3. Check for app updates in Play Store
  4. If persistent, uninstall and reinstall

Slow Results

  1. Some queries require more literature analysis
  2. Check your internet speed
  3. Try reducing "Max Results" in settings
  4. Complex claims take longer to evaluate

No Results Found

  1. Rephrase using different medical terminology
  2. Check if the topic is within biomedical scope
  3. Try a broader or more specific claim
  4. Ensure search providers are enabled

Battery and Data Usage

Battery Optimization

The app is designed to be battery-efficient:

  • No background processing when not in use
  • Minimal wake locks during analysis
  • Efficient network requests

Battery Tip

Avoid running many consecutive fact-checks on battery power if you need to conserve charge.

Data Usage

Typical data consumption per fact-check:

  • Search queries: ~10-50 KB
  • Results retrieval: ~100-500 KB
  • Full analysis: ~1-5 MB total

Privacy

  • No Tracking: No analytics or advertising
  • No Account Required: Use with just an API key
  • Local Storage: History stays on your device
  • Direct API Calls: Data goes directly to your chosen AI provider

Getting Help

Disclaimer

Medical Disclaimer

MedicalFactChecker is a research tool designed to help you explore biomedical literature. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical decisions.