Evaluation of Mobile Apps Targeted at Patients With Spondyloarthritis for Disease Monitoring: Systematic App Search

Kwan, Yu Heng; Ong, Wei Jie; Xiong, Mengfei; Leung, Ying Ying; Phang, Jie Kie; Wang, Charmaine Tze May; Fong, Warren

doi:10.2196/14753

Cited by 21 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…Many symptom-tracking apps for rheumatic disease did not use validated instruments [ 16 , 29 ]; only 2 apps in this study used validated instruments to track patients’ symptoms. iRheuma used the ASDAS, BASDAI, and BASFI to track users’ disease activity and functional ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both apps lacked the ability to directly transmit data to health care providers. Although evidence has suggested that mobile apps that use a validated instrument and have a tracking function may be useful for patients with arthritis for symptom monitoring [ 16 , 29 ], most of these apps, as well as the ones from our study, were not assessed in clinical trials. Thus, future studies should explore the effects of these apps on health and economic outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A previous review revealed that many apps are not supported by research, do not provide evidence-based therapies, and do not follow clinical guidelines [ 28 ]. Kwan et al [ 29 ] reviewed English-language apps for monitoring disease activity in patients with spondyloarthritis and found only 2 high-quality apps. However, the characteristics and functionalities of Chinese mHealth apps for AS management have not been systematically evaluated (eg, in terms of star rating, privacy policy, evidence-based content, and functionality).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Song

Chen

2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic systematic inflammatory disease, require long-term treatment and management. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can deliver health services through mobile devices, facilitate long-term disease management, support patient–health care provider communication, and enable patients to engage in disease management. There are some apps targeted at patients with AS, but the feature and quality of these apps have not been systematically examined. Objective The aim of this study was to identify existing, publicly available Chinese mHealth apps for AS management and to evaluate their features and quality. Methods We systematically searched potential apps for AS management on the Apple and Huawei App Stores, using 4 search terms: ankylosing spondylitis, spondyloarthritis, rheumatic disease, and arthritis. Apps were included if they were in the Chinese language, targeted at patients with AS, could be downloaded and run on Android and/or iOS operating systems, and incorporated elements of disease management and/or patient education. We excluded apps that were not for patient use, not relevant to AS, or had not been updated since 2018. Apps that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded for final analysis. We formulated a list of app quality measures from and consistent with international guidelines for mHealth apps and AS management to evaluate the features and quality of the included app. The user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) was also used to rate the apps’ quality. Results Of the 354 apps screened, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were included in our analysis. All apps were free, and most apps (4/5, 80%) had a privacy policy. Of the 5 apps, 1 (20%) involved medical professionals in the development process, 2 (40%) were developed by companies, and 2 (40%) were developed by medical institutions. All apps provided educational information about AS. Around half of the apps had functions like a basic information record (ie, users can input gender, age, disease history, etc) (n=3, 60%), patient–health care provider (and patient-patient) communication (n=2, 40%), symptom tracking (n=2, 40%), and information sharing (n=3, 60%). Only 1 (20%) app provided comprehensive functions that adhered to international guidelines for AS management and mHealth apps. The overall uMARS scores ranged from 2.7 to 4.2; only 1 app, with an overall uMARS score of 4.2, was considered as a high-quality app. Conclusions Most apps lacked comprehensive functions for AS management. One high-quality app provided comprehensive functions to help patients manage their conditions. This study assessed and summarized the features and quality of the apps but did not evaluate their efficacy. Future studies should evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of these apps. International guidelines and regulations for the design, development, validation, and implementation of mHealth apps are needed in the future. Meanwhile, health care providers, patients with AS, and app developers should collaborate to develop high-quality, evidence-based apps that take into account patients’ needs and health care professionals’ perspectives.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Song

Chen

2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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“…Smartphone technology, including apps [ 19 ] and app integrated wearable sensors [ 20 ], offers further chronic disease management potential. Moreover, the technological capacity, popularity, availability, and increased smartphone ownership globally, including in developing nations, promotes the smartphone as an attractive tool to assist patient self-management, continuous symptoms and vital sign monitoring, and communication between patients and physicians [ 21 , 22 ]. Furthermore, chronic disease management apps are beneficial in improving patients’ clinical outcomes and assisting in providing necessary medical care [ 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the technological capacity, popularity, availability, and increased smartphone ownership globally, including in developing nations, promotes the smartphone as an attractive tool to assist patient self-management, continuous symptoms and vital sign monitoring, and communication between patients and physicians [ 21 , 22 ]. Furthermore, chronic disease management apps are beneficial in improving patients’ clinical outcomes and assisting in providing necessary medical care [ 22 ]. Additionally, apps integrated with built-in smartphone sensors and wearable external sensors can capture numerous health parameters to deliver personalised healthcare solutions [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Smartphone Technologies in Disease Monitoring: A Systematic Review

et al. 2021

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Technologies play an essential role in monitoring, managing, and self-management of chronic diseases. Since chronic patients rely on life-long healthcare systems and the current COVID-19 pandemic has placed limits on hospital care, there is a need to explore disease monitoring and management technologies and examine their acceptance by chronic patients. We systematically examined the use of smartphone applications (apps) in chronic disease monitoring and management in databases, namely, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Proquest, published from 2010 to 2020. Results showed that app-based weight management programs had a significant effect on healthy eating and physical activity (p = 0.002), eating behaviours (p < 0.001) and dietary intake pattern (p < 0.001), decreased mean body weight (p = 0.008), mean Body Mass Index (BMI) (p = 0.002) and mean waist circumference (p < 0.001). App intervention assisted in decreasing the stress levels (paired t-test = 3.18; p < 0.05). Among cancer patients, we observed a high acceptance of technology (76%) and a moderately positive correlation between non-invasive electronic monitoring data and questionnaire (r = 0.6, p < 0.0001). We found a significant relationship between app use and standard clinical evaluation and high acceptance of the use of apps to monitor the disease. Our findings provide insights into critical issues, including technology acceptance along with regulatory guidelines to be considered when designing, developing, and deploying smartphone solutions targeted for chronic patients.

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Smartphone-Based Strategy for Quality-of-Life Monitoring in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Lopez-Perez,

Alonso,

Filippodou

et al. 2023

Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

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Evaluation of Mobile Apps Targeted at Patients With Spondyloarthritis for Disease Monitoring: Systematic App Search

Cited by 21 publications

References 21 publications

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Application of Smartphone Technologies in Disease Monitoring: A Systematic Review

Smartphone-Based Strategy for Quality-of-Life Monitoring in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

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