Using a mobile health app to improve patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment: a non-randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Poor adherence to hypertension treatment increases complications of the disease and is characterized by a lack of awareness and acceptance of ongoing treatment. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can optimize processes and facilitate access to health information by combining treatment methods with attractive solutions. In this study, we aimed at verifying the influence of using an mHealth app on patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment, also examining how user experience toward the app influenced the outcomes. A total of 49 participants completed the study, men and women, diagnosed with hypertension and ongoing medical treatment. For 12 weeks, the control group continued with conventional monitoring, while the experimental group used an mHealth app. From the experimental group, at baseline, 8% were non-adherent, 64% were partial adherents and 28% were adherent to the treatment. Baseline in the control group indicated 4.2% non-adherents, 58.3% partial adherents, and 37.5% adherents. After follow-up, the experimental group had an increase to 92% adherent, 8% partially adherent, and 0% non-adherent (P < 0.001). In the control group, adherence after follow-up remained virtually the same (P ≥ 0.999). Results of user experience were substantially positive and indicate that the participants in the experimental group had a satisfactory perception of the app. In conclusion, this study suggests that using an mHealth app can empower patients to manage their own health and increase adherence to hypertension treatment, especially when the app provides a positive user experience.

The Recent Advances of Mobile Healthcare in Cardiology Practice

“…The analysis showed that studies on the use of mobile applications were conducted in the USA (n=7) ( 30 - 36 ), Sweden (n=3) ( 37 - 39 ), Republic of Korea (n=1) ( 40 ), Brazil (n=1) ( 41 ), Norway (n=2) ( 42 , 43 ), Switzerland (n=1) ( 44 ), Belgium (n=1) ( 45 ), China (n=9) ( 22 , 46 - 53 ), Romania (n=1) ( 54 ), Japan (n=1) ( 55 ), Finland (n=1) ( 24 ), France (n=1) ( 56 ), New Zealand (n=1) ( 57 ), Iran (n=2) ( 58 , 59 ), Georgia (n=1) ( 60 ), Spain (n=2) ( 61 , 62 ), Palestine (n=1) ( 63 ) and Germany (n=3) ( 64 - 66 ). Two studies were conducted simultaneously in India (n=2) ( 67 , 68 ).…”

“…By category, the research was focused on the following areas: mobile applications for diagnostic purposes (for example, ECG recording ( 30 ), assessment of heart rate ( 31 , 33 , 44 , 65 ). Some studies were carried out to validate the system for urgent care alarm ( 37 ), lifestyle changes ( 43 , 45 , 53 , 62 , 65 ), adherence to treatment ( 35 , 38 , 41 , 47 , 48 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 59 , 60 , 63 , 64 , 67 , 68 ), and physical activity of the patients ( 22 , 32 , 34 , 41 , 45 , 62 ).…”

A Mobile Health-Based Disease Management Program Improves Blood Pressure in People With Multiple Lifestyle-Related Diseases at Risk of Developing Vascular Disease ― A Retrospective Observational Study ―

“…However, because higher levels of app usage were reported to be associated with increased intervention efficacy, 37 some participants in the present study may have improved their own health management through the use of the app, which improved their adherence to treatment. 38 …”

Latest Strategies to Tackle Hypertension

“…Many research indicated that patients using the mHealth app have bettermanaged hypertension when compared to the control group (Debon et al, 2020). Thus the mHealth app should provide a userfriendly experience to patients to maximize their involvement in managing hypertension (Volpi et al,2021).…”