scholarly journals A Research on the Classification and Applicability of the Mobile Health Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Miguel Pires ◽  
Gonçalo Marques ◽  
Nuno M. Garcia ◽  
Francisco Flórez-Revuelta ◽  
Vasco Ponciano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Online Application ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Scientific Validation ◽  
Health Applications

Mobile health applications are applied for different purposes. Healthcare professionals and other users can use this type of mobile applications for specific tasks, such as diagnosis, information, prevention, treatment, and communication. This paper presents an analysis of mobile health applications used by healthcare professionals and their patients. A secondary objective of this article is to evaluate the scientific validation of these mobile health applications and to verify if the results provided by these applications have an underlying sound scientific foundation. This study also analyzed literature references and the use of mobile health applications available in online application stores. In general, a large part of these mobile health applications provides information about scientific validation. However, some mobile health applications are not validated. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the usability and user-perceived quality of mobile health applications and the challenges related to scientific validation of these mobile applications.

Barriers and drivers regarding the use of mobile health applications among type 2 diabetes patients in the Netherlands: an explanatory sequential design (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marloes Bults ◽  
Catharina Margaretha Van Leersum ◽  
Theo Olthuis ◽  
Robin Bekhuis ◽  
Marjolein Elisabeth Maria Den Ouden
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Explanatory Sequential Design ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND In the Netherlands, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases and the number of patients is expected to increase in the coming years. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels, food intake and physical activity supports the self-management of patients with T2DM. In the past few years, there has been a rise in the development and availability of mobile health applications (apps) for T2DM. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the actual use of diabetes mobile health applications among T2DM-patients and main barriers and drivers among app-users and non-users. METHODS An explanatory sequential design was applied, starting with a web-based questionnaire followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were collected between July and December 2020. Questionnaire data from 103 respondents were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. Descriptive statistics were performed for actual use of apps among T2DM-patients and the individual items of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Differences between users and non-users were tested through chi-square tests for the individual items. Independent t-tests were performed to test for differences in mean scores per UTAUT-construct. A total of 16 respondents contributed to the in-depth interviews, of which ten were users and six non-users of apps for T2DM. Content analysis with a deductive approach was performed on all transcripts guided by the UTAUT. RESULTS Regarding actual use, 55% (n=57) were non-users and 45% (n=46) were users of apps for T2DM. Mean scores were significantly higher among users of apps for T2DM for the constructs performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and knowledge compared to the non-users (P<.001). One of the main drivers for use was the belief that using diabetes-apps would result in better personal health and well-being. Time and energy needed to keep track of data and understand the app were mentioned as barriers. Users scored significantly higher regarding social influence compared to the non-users (P.007). Healthcare professionals play an important role in the support of T2DM-patients in using apps. Respondents wanted to use the apps and acquired data together with their healthcare professionals. However, respondents noticed that their professionals often were not supportive regarding the use of diabetes-apps, didn’t had interest or did not talk about apps or acquired data. Reimbursement by insurance companies was mentioned as missing facilitator. CONCLUSIONS Empowering healthcare professionals’ engagement is of utmost important to support T2DM-patients in using apps. Insurance companies can have a role in facilitating the use of diabetes-apps, for example to assure reimbursement. Further research should focus on evaluation of patients experiences with different diabetes-apps and how to integrate mobile health applications with diabetes self-management care.

The Functionality, Quality and Consistency with International Guidelines of Asthma Mobile Health Applications: Protocol for a Systematic Review. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy Robinson ◽  
Enying Gong ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
Katharine See
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Airflow Limitation ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Gina Guidelines ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder defined clinically as a combination of typical respiratory symptoms, and significant variable reversible airflow limitation. In addition to pharmacotherapy, a key aspect of asthma management is empowering patients to manage their condition and recognise and respond to asthma exacerbations. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) represent a potential medium through which patients could improve the ability to self-manage their asthma. Few studies have conducted a systematic evaluation of both free and paid asthma mobile applications for the quality and functionality of the apps using a validated tool and to our knowledge none have systematically assessed these applications for the quality of information that they provide compared to available international best practice guidelines. This represents the first study that will undertake both of these evaluations for all available mHealth Apps in Australia targeted towards adult asthmatics. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines represent a regularly updated guideline based on reviews of the available scientific literature by an international panel of experts. This review will examine the functionality and quality of available asthma mobile health applications and the consistency of these available applications with recommendations from the GINA guidelines. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of adult-targeted asthma mobile health applications on the Australian market. As part of this review the potential for an mHealth app to improve asthma self-management and the overall quality of the application will be evaluated, using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) framework, and the quality of the information within an app, using the current GINA guidelines as a reference, will be assessed. METHODS A methodological stepwise approach was taken in creating this review. First the most recent GINA guidelines were independently reviewed by two authors to identify key recommendations that could feasibly be incorporated into a mHealth app. These identified recommendations were then compared to a previously developed asthma application assessment framework. A modified assessment framework was created, ensuring all of these identified recommendations were included. Two popular App stores were then reviewed to identify potential mHealth Apps and then a screening process based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria occurred to establish what mHealth Apps would be evaluated. Application evaluation then occurred. Technical information was obtained from publicly available information on the application store or within the app itself. The next step was to perform an application quality assessment using the validated MARS framework to objectively determine the quality of the application. Application functionality was then assessed using the IMS Institute for Health Informatics Functionality Scoring system. Finally, the mHealth applications will be assessed using a checklist that we have developed based on what was identified from the international GINA guidelines. RESULTS To date, funding has been received for the project from the Respiratory Department at Northern Health, Victoria. Three reviewers have been recruited to systematically evaluate the applications. Results for this study are expected by the end of this year. CONCLUSIONS Nil as protocol CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO 269894

scholarly journals Relationships between the Older Adult’s Cognitive Decline and Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of the Assistive Mobile Health Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Murtaja Ali Saare ◽  
Azham Hussain ◽  
Wong Seng Yue
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Conceptual Explanation ◽  
Health Applications

This article examines the link between the older adult’s cognitive decline, and Assistive Mobile Health Applications in terms of quality of life as researcher has found scarcity in explaining the mediating role of assistive mobile health applications towards the quality of life of older adults with cognitive decline. Researchers have identified the importance of using assistive mobile health applications in connection of the older adult’s cognitive decline. However, it remained unaddressed in the explaining the mediating role of assistive mobile health application. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an insight that the adoption of assistive m-health applications will provide this population with potential solution to their challenging aging life, hence, enhancing their quality of life. In addition, this paper is only a conceptual explanation, as it aims to identify the possible reasons that influence their Smartphone adoption. Factors were identified using a systematic literature review on relevant peer reviewed papers. The study summarized the empirical evidences which were used to support the conceptual explanation. It is expected that this work will lead towards the empirical findings on the explanation of the mediating role of the assistive mobile health applications to address the relationship of older adult’s cognitive decline and quality of life. This paper providesdirections for future studies in improving the quality of life of older adults.

scholarly journals Patient Self-Management of Asthma Using Mobile Health Applications: A Systematic Review of the Functionalities and Effects

2017 ◽  
Vol 08 (04) ◽  
pp. 1068-1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Farzandipour ◽  
Ehsan Nabovati ◽  
Reihane Sharif ◽  
Marzieh Arani ◽  
Shima Anvari
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Health Applications

Objective The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence regarding the effects of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) for self-management outcomes in patients with asthma and to assess the functionalities of effective interventions. Methods We systematically searched Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included English-language studies that evaluated the effects of smartphone or tablet computer apps on self-management outcomes in asthmatic patients. The characteristics of these studies, effects of interventions, and features of mHealth apps were extracted. Results A total of 10 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Outcomes that were assessed in the included studies were categorized into three groups (clinical, patient-reported, and economic). mHealth apps improved asthma control (five studies) and lung function (two studies) from the clinical outcomes. From the patient-reported outcomes, quality of life (three studies) was statistically significantly improved, while there was no significant impact on self-efficacy scores (two studies). Effects on economic outcomes were equivocal, so that the number of visits (in two studies) and admission and hospitalization-relevant outcomes (in one study) statistically significantly improved; and in four other studies, these outcomes did not improve significantly. mHealth apps features were categorized into seven categories (inform, instruct, record, display, guide, remind/alert, and communicate). Eight of the 10 mHealth apps included more than one functionality. Nearly all interventions had the functionality of recording user-entered data and half of them had the functionality of providing educational information and reminders to patients. Conclusion Multifunctional mHealth apps have good potential in the control of asthma and in improving the quality of life in such patients compared with traditional interventions. Further studies are needed to identify the effectiveness of these interventions on outcomes related to medication adherence and costs.

scholarly journals Using Mobile Applications to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8238
Author(s):  
Laura Pradal-Cano ◽  
Carolina Lozano-Ruiz ◽  
José Juan Pereyra-Rodríguez ◽  
Francesc Saigí-Rubió ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Full Text Review ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Bibliographic Search ◽  
Health Applications

Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity—major risk factors for the main non-communicable diseases—can be addressed by mobile health applications. Using an evidence-based systematic review design, we analysed studies on mobile applications to foster physical activity to determine whether they met the objective of increasing adults’ physical activity. A bibliographic search was conducted in October 2020 using PubMed, Cochrane Library Plus, Biomed Central, Psychology Database, and SpringerLink, retrieving 191 articles. After titles and abstracts were reviewed, 149 articles were excluded, leaving 42 articles for a full-text review, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Despite differences in study duration, design, and variables, 13 of the 14 studies reported that applications were effective in increasing physical activity and healthy habits as dietary behaviour. However, further longer-term studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the effectiveness of mobile health applications in increasing physical activity.

scholarly journals ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE USE OF MOBILE HEALTH APPLICATIONS IN BULGARIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Kristina Kilova ◽  
Desislava Bakova ◽  
Antonia Yaneva ◽  
Vanina Mihaylova
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Graphical Representation ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Quality Of Health Services ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Socially Relevant ◽  
Health Applications

Background: The increasing use of mobile phones has offered an opportunity to improve the quality of health services, secure the accessibility of healthcare systems for a larger population and support patients in effective management of their health/chronic conditions. Main Goal: The primary focus of the study in hand is to explore the different attitudes towards the use of mHealth in Bulgaria and to examine the extensive use of mobile health applications for the supervision, prevention and containment of various socially relevant diseases, including the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Materials and methods: An online survey was conducted in the period between July 2019 and February 2020. Amongst the 976 people that were interviewed, 591 (60.6%) were females and 385 (39.4%) were males. The mean age of the respondents was 43.25 ± 0.755. A unique questionnaire was prepared for the collection of information regarding the usage of mobile health applications. Statistical analyses were carried out with the help of IBM SPSS Statistics, version 23. MS Excel 2016 was used for the graphical representation of the results. Results: 89% of the participants possessed a mobile phone and an approximate 84% of them used mHealth applications. Besides this, the results suggested a considerable statistical difference in the respondents’ attitudes, in terms of their gender, where the deviation was in favour of female respondents. Additionally, findings revealed another statistical difference on the basis of their age and level of education. Furthermore, a huge majority claimed that they generally used these types of applications for monitoring their blood pressure or pulse. Conclusion: The outcome of the study was that a significant number of respondents were already using or tended to use smartphones and various applications, including health ones. We expect that the results of this study will provide evidence of the essentiality of mobile health applications to be developed in Bulgaria. This is crucial for patients as this technology has the potential to open up several new possibilities for treatments and observations of diverse socially significant diseases.

The Functionality, Quality and Consistency with International Guidelines of Asthma Mobile Health Applications: Protocol for a Systematic Review. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy Robinson ◽  
Enying Gong ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
Katharine See
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Gina Guidelines ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder which requires long-term pharmacotherapy and patient empowerment to manage their condition and recognise and respond to asthma exacerbations. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) represent a potential medium through which patients could improve the ability to self-manage their asthma. Few studies have conducted a systematic evaluation of asthma mobile applications for the quality and functionality of the apps using a validated tool. None of these reviews have systematically assessed these applications for their content compared to available international best practice guidelines. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of adult-targeted asthma mobile health applications. As part of this review the potential for an mHealth app to improve asthma self-management and the overall quality of the application will be evaluated, using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) framework, and the quality of the information within an app, using the current Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines as a reference, will be assessed. METHODS A methodological stepwise approach was taken in creating this review. First the most recent GINA guidelines were independently reviewed by two authors to identify key recommendations that could feasibly be incorporated into a mHealth app. A previously developed asthma assessment framework was identified and modified to suit our research and ensure all of these identified recommendations were included. Two popular App stores were then reviewed to identify potential mHealth Apps. These Apps were screened based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Suitable applications were then evaluated. Technical information was obtained from publicly available information. The next step was to perform an application quality assessment using the validated MARS framework to objectively determine the quality of the application. Application functionality was then assessed using the IMS Institute for Health Informatics Functionality Scoring system. Finally, the mHealth applications will be assessed using a checklist that we have developed. RESULTS To date, funding has been received for the project from the Respiratory Department at Northern Health, Victoria. Three reviewers have been recruited to systematically evaluate the applications. Results for this study are expected by the end of this year. CONCLUSIONS This review represents the first that we know of that will examine all mobile health applications available in Australia targeted to adult asthmatics for their functionality, quality and consistency with international best practice guidelines. Though the review will only be conducted on mHealth Apps available in Australia, many applications are available internationally and thus should be largely generalisable to other English-speaking regions and users. The results of this review will help to fill gaps in the literature and assist clinicians in providing evidence-based advice to adult patients wishing to use mHealth apps as part of their asthma self-management. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO 269894

scholarly journals Evaluation of HIV/AIDS-related mobile health applications content using an evidence-based content rating tool

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Raeesi ◽  
Reza Khajouei ◽  
Leila Ahmadian
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Google Play ◽  
Health Applications ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background Despite the increasing number of mobile health applications, the validity of their content is understudied. The objective of this study was to rate the content of HIV/AIDS-related mobile applications and to determine the extent to which evidence-based medicine is being incorporated into their content using a new tool called the Evidence-based content rating tool of mobile health applications (EBCRT-mHealth). Methods All available HIV/AIDS-related applications in Iran from Cafe Bazaar and Google Play Store were evaluated. This study was first conducted in 2018, then after almost two years in 2021 was done again. In this study, researchers developed the EBCRT-mHealth tool to rate the content of applications based on the evidence-based medicine pyramid. Its reliability was calculated (α = 0.78), and five specialists confirmed its validity. Two reviewers independently reviewed all HIV/AIDS applications directly downloaded and installed from the Google Play Store and Cafe Bazaar. Results Out of 980 retrieved applications, in 2018, 85, and in 2021, 78 applications were included in the study. Only in 17 (28%) out of the 60 in 2018, and 25 (51%) in 2021 Google Play store applications the source of content information was mentioned. All Cafe Bazaar mobile applications mentioned the source of information. The mean rating of all application content in 2018 was 2.38 (SD = 0.74), and in 2021 was 2.90 (SD = 1.35) out of 5. The mean rating of the content of Cafe Bazaar applications in 2018 was 2.10 (SD = 0.49), and in 2021 was 1.94 (SD = 0.29). The mean content rating of Google Play store applications in 2018 was 2.50 (SD = 0.80) and in 2021 was 3.86 (SD = 1.18). Conclusion After two years, the rating of the content of HIV/AIDS-related applications available in Iran that existed in Cafe Bazaar decreased from "poor" to "inappropriate". Also, the content score of the Google Play Store applications increased from "poor" to "good". It is critical to ensure the credibility of the sources used in developing their content and removing applications with inappropriate and unreliable content from the App Stores. Also, mobile health application developers should use the highest quality information in their applications.

scholarly journals Mobile health applications and health management behaviors: A cost/benefits approach (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Mano
Keyword(s):  
Home Care ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Situational Effects ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Management Behaviors ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Rising criticisms about the effectiveness and risks associated with the growing use of mobile health, applications necessitate a critical perspective regarding the effectiveness of the link between use of mobile health applications, health attitudes and health behaviors. OBJECTIVE we introduce a “costs/benefits” perspective to examine how health situational effects including health crises, health changes and hospitalization affect the likelihood to adopt lifestyle and health management behaviors. METHODS A sample of 1495 US adults (PEW, 2012) and a set of multiple regression models RESULTS while the use of mobile health applications empowers users to reconsider health concerns, reach health decisions and seek further consultation yet, the existence of situational effects moderates the empowering effect of applications and decreases the likelihood of adopting health management behaviors CONCLUSIONS a costs/benefits perspective captures the push/pull factors associated with the effectiveness of mobile applications use in-home care in order to properly address the costs and benefits of mobile applications use and support home care services.

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