Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools

Abstract

BackgroundApps have been enthusiastically adopted by the general public. They are increasingly recognized by policy-makers as a potential medium for supporting self-management of long-term conditions. We assessed the degree to which current smartphone and tablet apps for people with asthma offer content and tools of appropriate quality to support asthma self-management.MethodsWe adapted systematic review methodology to the assessment of apps. We identified English-language asthma apps for all ages through a systematic search of official app stores. We systematically assessed app content using criteria derived from international guidelines and systematic review of strategies for asthma self-management. We covered three domains: comprehensiveness of asthma information, consistency of advice with evidence and compliance with health information best practice principles.ResultsWe identified 103 apps for asthma in English, of which 56 were sources of information about the condition and 47 provided tools for the management of asthma. No apps offered both types of functionality. Only three information apps approached our definition of comprehensiveness of information about asthma. No apps provided advice on lay management of acute asthma that included details of appropriate reliever medication use. In 32 of 72 instances, apps made unequivocal recommendations about strategies for asthma control or prophylaxis that were unsupported by current evidence. Although 90% of apps stated a clear purpose, compliance with other best practice principles for health information was variable. Contact details were located for 55%, funding source for 18% and confidentiality policy for 17%.ConclusionsNo apps for people with asthma combined reliable, comprehensive information about the condition with supportive tools for self-management. Healthcare professionals considering recommending apps to patients as part of asthma self-management should exercise caution, recognizing that some apps like calculators may be unsafe; that no current app will meet the need of every patient; and that ways of working must be adapted if apps are to be introduced, supported and sustained in routine care. Policy-makers need to consider the potential role for assurance mechanisms in relation to apps. There remains much to be done if apps are to find broad use in clinical practice; clinicians cannot recommend tools that are inaccurate, unsafe or lack an evidence base.

Audience, Content, Media: A Literature Review about Factors to Consider When Designing Technology Based Asthma Education Programs for Children

“…While Boulous, Brewer, Karimkhani, Buller, and Dellavalle reported that a staggering 40,000 healthcare apps were in use, a surprisingly low number of asthma apps are available [83]. Of all the available apps on the market found during a systematic assessment of Android, Apple, Blackberry, and Windows Phone's app stores by Huckvale, Car, Morrison, and Car, 103 asthma-related apps were identified [84]. These apps focus on either education or behavioral management tools, none have found that included both of these elements [84].…”

“…Of all the available apps on the market found during a systematic assessment of Android, Apple, Blackberry, and Windows Phone's app stores by Huckvale, Car, Morrison, and Car, 103 asthma-related apps were identified [84]. These apps focus on either education or behavioral management tools, none have found that included both of these elements [84]. Only 13 of the available apps included multimedia information and only seven targeted children [84].…”

“…These apps focus on either education or behavioral management tools, none have found that included both of these elements [84]. Only 13 of the available apps included multimedia information and only seven targeted children [84]. Regardless of the targeted age group, very few of the apps were working tools or based on accurate asthma information [84].…”

“…Only 13 of the available apps included multimedia information and only seven targeted children [84]. Regardless of the targeted age group, very few of the apps were working tools or based on accurate asthma information [84]. Huckvale et al 's 2015 reevaluation of the Apple iOS and Android app stores revealed similar results [68].…”

Managing immune diseases in the smartphone era: how have apps impacted disease management and their future?

“…If mobile apps are to become a key aid in the day-to-day management of patients then clinicians will need to be assured that the information contained in healthcare applications is accurate [4]. In general, app users must agree with the terms and conditions to use the applications, and the users are mainly liable for utilizing the information in the applications.…”