Personalized and Self-Management: Systematic Search and Evaluation Quality Factors and User Preference of Drug Reference Apps in Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Drug reference apps promote self-management and improve the efficiency and quality of work for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and patients. This study aimed to describe a systematic and stepwise process to identify drug reference apps in Taiwan, assess the quality of these apps, and analyze the influential factors for user ratings. Methods: A two-step algorithm (KESS) consisting of keyword growing and systematic search was proposed. Seven independent reviewers were trained to evaluate these apps using Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). A logistic regression model was fitted and average marginal effects (AME) were calculated to identify the effects of factors for higher user ratings. Results: A total of 23 drug reference apps in Taiwan were identified and analyzed. Generally, these drug reference apps were evaluated as acceptable quality with an average MARS score of 3.23. Higher user engagement, more functionality, better aesthetics, and more information associated with higher user ratings. Navigation is the most influential factor on higher user ratings (AME: 13.15%) followed by performance (AME: 11.03%), visual appeal (AME: 10.87%), credibility (AME: 10.67%), and quantity of information (AME: 10.42%). Conclusions: User experience and information clearly affect user ratings of drug reference apps. Five key factors should be considered when designing drug reference apps.

Mobile Health Apps Providing Information on Drugs for Adult Emergency Care: Systematic Search on App Stores and Content Analysis

“…A study conducted in 2013 on apps to support drug prescribing or provide pharmacology education showed that 68% (208/306) of the apps required payment, with a mean price of £14.25 (US $18.57) per app and a range of £0.62 (US $0.81) to £101.90 (US $132.76) [ 38 ]. The cost of apps also seems to be influenced by the origin of the developer [ 41 ]. In any case, cost is an important determinant in the decision to adopt a mobile health app, regardless of age group and socioeconomic status [ 46 ].…”

“…The number of downloads and user ratings probably depend on multiple factors. Navigation, performance, visual appeal, credibility, and quantity of information have recently been identified as the most influential factors on higher user ratings in a study analyzing 23 drug reference apps [ 41 ]. Previous studies have reported highly variable results for the influence of expert involvement in app development on user ratings and the number of downloads [ 18 , 41 , 49 ].…”

“…Navigation, performance, visual appeal, credibility, and quantity of information have recently been identified as the most influential factors on higher user ratings in a study analyzing 23 drug reference apps [ 41 ]. Previous studies have reported highly variable results for the influence of expert involvement in app development on user ratings and the number of downloads [ 18 , 41 , 49 ]. In any case, user ratings and downloads should not be considered good predictors of the quality and reliability of medical apps because they could be influenced by other factors, such as low price, in-app purchase options, in-app advertisements, and recent updates [ 18 , 51 , 52 ].…”

“…Of the 59 apps analyzed, 23 (39%) contained medication information features [ 40 ]. Very recently, a study identified 23 drug reference apps with local drug information in Taiwan (including those aimed at both patients and professionals) and analyzed their quality and factors influencing user perceptions [ 41 ]. In the field of emergency care, a recent study analyzed apps for the management of drug poisoning [ 42 ].…”

“…A highly specific quality assessment tool was developed to assess the quality of apps targeting medication-related problems, including those with medication information features [ 40 ]. Nevertheless, the most commonly used methodology to assess the quality of medical apps is the Mobile Application Rating Scale [ 53 - 55 ], as well as in studies on drug apps [ 30 , 36 , 37 , 41 ]. The total number of features has been associated with the total Mobile Application Rating Scale score in a study on apps for potential drug-drug interaction decision support [ 36 ].…”