Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis

J 2019

Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis

TABI, Katarína, Abnashi Singh RANDHAWA, Fiona CHOI, Zamina MITHANI, Friederike ALBERS et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis

Authors

TABI, Katarína (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Abnashi Singh RANDHAWA (124 Canada), Fiona CHOI (124 Canada), Zamina MITHANI (124 Canada), Friederike ALBERS (528 Netherlands), Maren SCHNIEDER (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Mohammadali NIKOO (124 Canada), Daniel VIGO (124 Canada), Kerry JANG (124 Canada), Regina DEMLOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Michael KRAUSZ (124 Canada)

Edition

JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH, TORONTO, JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC, 2019, 2291-5222

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30104 Pharmacology and pharmacy

Country of publisher

Canada

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.313

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/19:00110240

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608

UT WoS

000485323700001

Keywords in English

eHealth; mHealth; drugs; pharmaceuticals; therapy

Abstract

V originále

Background: Pharmacotherapy remains one of the major interventional strategies in medicine. However, patients from all age groups and conditions face challenges when taking medications, such as integrating them into the daily routine, understanding their effects and side effects, and monitoring outcomes. In this context, a reliable medication management tool adaptable to the patient's needs becomes critical. As most people have a mobile phone, mobile apps offer a platform for such a personalized support tool available on the go. Objective: This study aimed to provide an overview of available mobile apps, focusing on those that help patients understand and take their medications. We reviewed the existing apps and provided suggestions for future development based on the concept understand and manage, instead of the conventional adhere to medication. This concept aims to engage and empower patients to be in charge of their health, as well as see medication as part of a broader clinical approach, working simultaneously with other types of interventions or lifestyle changes, to achieve optimal outcomes. Methods: We performed a Web search in the iOS Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store, using 4 search terms: medication management, pill reminder, medication health monitor, and medication helper. We extracted information from the app store descriptions for each eligible app and categorized into the following characteristics: features, author affiliation, specialty, user interface, cost, and user rating. In addition, we conducted Google searches to obtain more information about the author affiliation. Results: A total of 328 apps (175 Android and 153 iOS) were categorized. The majority of the apps were developed by the software industry (73%, 11/15), a minority of them were codeveloped by health care professionals (15%, 3/20) or academia (2.1%; 7/328). The most prevalent specialty was diabetes (23 apps). Only 7 apps focused on mental health, but their content was highly comprehensive in terms of features and had the highest prevalence of the education component. The most prevalent features were reminder, symptom tracker, and ability to share data with a family member or doctor. In addition, we highlighted the features considered innovative and listed practical suggestions for future development and innovations. Conclusions: We identified detailed characteristics of the existing apps, with the aim of informing future app development. Ultimately, the goal was to provide users with effective mobile health solutions, which can be expected to improve their engagement in the treatment process and long-term well-being. This study also highlighted the need for improved standards for reporting on app stores. Furthermore, it underlined the need for a platform to offer health app users an ongoing evaluation of apps by health professionals in addition to other users and to provide them with tools to easily select an appropriate and trustworthy app.

Links

LM2015090, research and development project

Name: Český národní uzel Evropské sítě infrastruktur klinického výzkumu (Acronym: CZECRIN)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

MUNI/A/1132/2017, interní kód MU

Name: Behaviorální psychofarmakologie a farmakokinetika v preklinickém výzkumu léčiv

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Citovat

TABI, Katarína, Abnashi Singh RANDHAWA, Fiona CHOI, Zamina MITHANI, Friederike ALBERS, Maren SCHNIEDER, Mohammadali NIKOO, Daniel VIGO, Kerry JANG, Regina DEMLOVÁ and Michael KRAUSZ. Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis. JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH. TORONTO: JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC, 2019, vol. 7, No 9, p. 1-14. ISSN 2291-5222. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608.

@article{1546876,
   author = {Tabi, Katarína and Randhawa, Abnashi Singh and Choi, Fiona and Mithani, Zamina and Albers, Friederike and Schnieder, Maren and Nikoo, Mohammadali and Vigo, Daniel and Jang, Kerry and Demlová, Regina and Krausz, Michael},
   article_location = {TORONTO},
   article_number = {9},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608},
   keywords = {eHealth; mHealth; drugs; pharmaceuticals; therapy},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2291-5222},
   journal = {JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH},
   title = {Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608},
   volume = {7},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1546876
AU  - Tabi, Katarína - Randhawa, Abnashi Singh - Choi, Fiona - Mithani, Zamina - Albers, Friederike - Schnieder, Maren - Nikoo, Mohammadali - Vigo, Daniel - Jang, Kerry - Demlová, Regina - Krausz, Michael
PY  - 2019
TI  - Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis
JF  - JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH
VL  - 7
IS  - 9
SP  - 1-14
EP  - 1-14
PB  - JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC
SN  - 22915222
KW  - eHealth
KW  - mHealth
KW  - drugs
KW  - pharmaceuticals
KW  - therapy
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608
L2  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608
N2  - Background: Pharmacotherapy remains one of the major interventional strategies in medicine. However, patients from all age groups and conditions face challenges when taking medications, such as integrating them into the daily routine, understanding their effects and side effects, and monitoring outcomes. In this context, a reliable medication management tool adaptable to the patient's needs becomes critical. As most people have a mobile phone, mobile apps offer a platform for such a personalized support tool available on the go. Objective: This study aimed to provide an overview of available mobile apps, focusing on those that help patients understand and take their medications. We reviewed the existing apps and provided suggestions for future development based on the concept understand and manage, instead of the conventional adhere to medication. This concept aims to engage and empower patients to be in charge of their health, as well as see medication as part of a broader clinical approach, working simultaneously with other types of interventions or lifestyle changes, to achieve optimal outcomes. Methods: We performed a Web search in the iOS Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store, using 4 search terms: medication management, pill reminder, medication health monitor, and medication helper. We extracted information from the app store descriptions for each eligible app and categorized into the following characteristics: features, author affiliation, specialty, user interface, cost, and user rating. In addition, we conducted Google searches to obtain more information about the author affiliation. Results: A total of 328 apps (175 Android and 153 iOS) were categorized. The majority of the apps were developed by the software industry (73%, 11/15), a minority of them were codeveloped by health care professionals (15%, 3/20) or academia (2.1%; 7/328). The most prevalent specialty was diabetes (23 apps). Only 7 apps focused on mental health, but their content was highly comprehensive in terms of features and had the highest prevalence of the education component. The most prevalent features were reminder, symptom tracker, and ability to share data with a family member or doctor. In addition, we highlighted the features considered innovative and listed practical suggestions for future development and innovations. Conclusions: We identified detailed characteristics of the existing apps, with the aim of informing future app development. Ultimately, the goal was to provide users with effective mobile health solutions, which can be expected to improve their engagement in the treatment process and long-term well-being. This study also highlighted the need for improved standards for reporting on app stores. Furthermore, it underlined the need for a platform to offer health app users an ongoing evaluation of apps by health professionals in addition to other users and to provide them with tools to easily select an appropriate and trustworthy app.
ER  -

TABI, Katarína, Abnashi Singh RANDHAWA, Fiona CHOI, Zamina MITHANI, Friederike ALBERS, Maren SCHNIEDER, Mohammadali NIKOO, Daniel VIGO, Kerry JANG, Regina DEMLOVÁ and Michael KRAUSZ. Mobile Apps for Medication Management: Review and Analysis. \textit{JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH}. TORONTO: JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC, 2019, vol.~7, No~9, p.~1-14. ISSN~2291-5222. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13608.

Detailed Information on Publication Record