An evaluation of diabetes self-management applications for Android smartphones

Abstract

We reviewed diabetes apps for Android smartphones. We compiled a list of free and paid apps in April 2011 by searching the Android Market for apps which could track self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), diabetes medications or calculate prandial insulin dosages. Two reviewers independently evaluated six features per app, using a five-point Likert scale. The sum of the six ratings was the composite usability score, and the mean score of an app's features was the average usability score. Of the 80 Android diabetes apps identified, 42 unique apps were eligible for the study. SMBG recording was present in 36 (86%) of the apps, a tool to track insulin or oral diabetic medications was found in 19 (45%) apps, and a prandial insulin dose calculator existed for 11 (26%) apps. Eighteen apps were free of charge and the other 24 apps had a mean purchase price of $2.86 (range 0.99-6.99). The mean composite usability score was 11.3 out of a possible 30. The mean average usability score was 3.0 out of a possible 5.0. Only four of the 42 apps had a composite usability score above 20 and none offered direct data input from glucometers, suggesting that few provided a comprehensive method of diabetes management. The apps Glucool Diabetes, OnTrack Diabetes, Dbees and Track3 Diabetes Planner were the highest rated. Clinicians may find it useful to recommend these apps.

Usability of Commercially Available Mobile Applications for Diverse Patients

“…17 In addition, studies have identified mobile health app usability barriers for older patients. 18 While researchers have evaluated the usability of diabetes apps themselves, [19][20][21] there have been very few studies that have examined the usability of commercially available mobile apps among end-users-especially among a predominantly lower income patient population.…”

Quality of Blood Pressure Tracking Apps for the iPhone: Content Analysis and Evaluation of Adherence With Home Blood Pressure Measurement Best Practices (Preprint)

“…Demidowich et al found that only 4 of 42 Android apps targeted towards diabetes self-management had sufficiently high composite usability scores, which suggested that few apps provided a comprehensive method of diabetes management. [39] In the current study, only 7 apps had overall quality scores ≥19 of 28, and only 5 met the best practices criteria. Our adapted HON quality score results are similar to that of Huckvale et al, who found generally low quality of asthma self-management apps using the HON criteria.…”

“…[29] In our data, it appeared as though user star ratings may be helpful to identify a quality app, but this data is not robust and others have found poor correlation between user-star ratings and app usability scores. [39] The current study found only 12 apps that contained any sort of educational component, with no app scoring above 50% for educational quality. This demonstrates that these apps were primarily designed to be tracking tools, with little emphasis on comprehensive, high quality educational material.…”

Aspectos importantes a incorporar en una aplicación móvil para la adherencia al tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en Costa Rica según pacientes y profesionales de salud

“…También, respecto a la edad, se ha indicado que conforme esta incrementa, las habilidades físicas y cognitivas disminuyen, tales como la agudeza visual, la detección del contraste y la escucha, además los pacientes diabéticos mayores pueden sufrir de complicaciones como retinopatía (10), por lo cual, lo mencionado por los participantes acerca de que las apps para el control de la diabetes deben ser sencillas, con interfaces intuitivas y con botones grandes y visibles, son puntos que se deben tomar en cuenta en el diseño de estas herramientas para este tipo de pacientes que pueden llegar a padecer retinopatía y neuropatía periférica (22).…”