Would You Prescribe Mobile Health Apps for Heart Failure Self-care? An Integrated Review of Commercially Available Mobile Technology for Heart Failure Patients

Mortara, Andrea; Vaira, Lucia; Palmieri, Vittorio; Iacoviello, Massimo; Battistoni, Ilaria; Iacovoni, Attilio; Macera, Francesca; Pasqualucci, Daniele; Bochicchio, Mario A.; Maria, Renata De

doi:10.15420/cfr.2019.11

Cited by 40 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Unlike MARS, this tool only assesses objective quality and has been used previously to evaluate app capabilities [ 32 , 33 ]. The functionality score consists of 7 functionality criteria and 4 functional subcategories.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Apps With a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults With Heart Failure Using the Mobile App Rating Scale and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score: Evaluation Study

Diaz-Skeete¹,

McQuaid²,

Akinosun³

et al. 2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Managing the care of older adults with heart failure (HF) largely centers on medication management. Because of frequent medication or dosing changes, an app that supports these older adults in keeping an up-to-date list of medications could be advantageous. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HF outpatient consultations are taking place virtually or by telephone. An app with the capability to share a patient’s medication list with health care professionals before consultation could support clinical efficiency, for example, by reducing consultation time. However, the influence of apps on maintaining an up-to-date medication history for older adults with HF in Ireland remains largely unexplored. Objective The aims of this review are twofold: to review apps with a medication list functionality and to assess the quality of the apps included in the review using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality scale. Methods A systematic search of apps was conducted in June 2019 using the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store. The MARS was used independently by 4 researchers to assess the quality of the apps using an Android phone and an iPad. Apps were also evaluated using the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality score. Results Google Play and iTunes App store searches identified 483 potential apps (292 from Google Play and 191 from iTunes App stores). A total of 6 apps (3 across both stores) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 6 apps, 4 achieved an acceptable MARS score (3/5). The Medisafe app had the highest overall MARS score (4/5), and the Medication List & Medical Records app had the lowest overall score (2.5/5). On average, the apps had 8 functions based on the IMS functionality criteria (range 5-11). A total of 2 apps achieved the maximum score for number of features (11 features) according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality score, and 2 scored the lowest (5 features). Peer-reviewed publications were identified for 3 of the apps. Conclusions The quality of current apps with medication list functionality varies according to their technical aspects. Most of the apps reviewed have an acceptable MARS objective quality (ie, the overall quality of an app). However, subjective quality (ie, satisfaction with the apps) was poor. Only 3 apps are based on scientific evidence and have been tested previously. A total of 2 apps featured all the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionalities, and half did not provide clear instructions on how to enter medication data, did not display vital parameter data in an easy-to-understand format, and did not guide users on how or when to take their medication.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Apps With a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults With Heart Failure Using the Mobile App Rating Scale and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score: Evaluation Study

Diaz-Skeete¹,

McQuaid²,

Akinosun³

et al. 2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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“…smartwatches, sensors embedded in T-shirts, socks and other clothing), automatic data collection and analysis, as well as on algorithms for detecting haemodynamic decompensation and initiating therapeutic responses in a strategy of non-intrusive monitoring. [ 2 , 3 , 12 , 14 , 32 , 33 ] Future developments will include the internet of things for continuous and imperceptible health status monitoring. [ 12 , 35 , 36 ]…”

Section: Telemedicine In Heart Failure: Remote Patient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of Telemedicine in the Management of Heart Failure Patients

et al. 2021

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Telemedicine (TM) is potentially a way of escalating heart failure (HF) multidisciplinary integrated care. Despite the initial efforts to implement TM in HF management, we are still at an early stage of its implementation. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to an increased utilisation of TM. This tendency will probably remain after the resolution of this threat. Face-to-face medical interventions are gradually transitioning to the virtual setting by using TM. TM can improve healthcare accessibility and overcome geographic inequalities. It promotes healthcare system efficiency gains, and improves patient self-management and empowerment. In cooperation with human intervention, artificial intelligence can enhance TM by helping to deal with the complexities of multicomorbidity management in HF, and will play a relevant role towards a personalised HF patient approach. Artificial intelligence-powered/telemedical/heart team/multidisciplinary integrated care may be the next step of HF management. In this review, the authors analyse TM trends in the management of HF patients and foresee its future challenges within the scope of HF multidisciplinary integrated care.

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“…[ 36 ] Despite this, very few of them have been designed specifically for HF patients; a 2019 review identified 10 apps focused on HF self-care available on the Apple App Store and Google Play store. [ 37 ] Four of these were developed by scientific societies (including the American Heart Association and the Swiss Federation of Cardiology) and they were predominantly aimed at patient education, symptom tracking and prompting users to seek early care for symptoms in order to address low health literacy and poor understanding of self-care in HF patients. [ 38 , 39 ]…”

Section: Apps and Wearablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Health: Implications for Heart Failure Management

Singhal

Cowie

2021

Card Fail Rev

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Digital health encompasses the use of information and communications technology and the use of advanced computing sciences in healthcare. This review covers the application of digital health in heart failure patients, focusing on teleconsultation, remote monitoring and apps and wearables, looking at how these technologies can be used to support care and improve outcomes. Interest in and use of these technologies, particularly teleconsultation, have been accelerated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Remote monitoring of heart failure patients, to identify those patients at high risk of hospitalisation and to support clinical stability, has been studied with mixed results. Remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure has a consistent effect on reducing hospitalisation rates for patients with moderately severe symptoms and multiparameter monitoring shows promise for the future. Wearable devices and apps are increasingly used by patients for health and lifestyle support. Some wearable technologies have shown promise in AF detection, and others may be useful in supporting self-care and guiding prognosis, but more evidence is required to guide their optimal use. Support for patients and clinicians wishing to use these technologies is important, along with consideration of data validity and privacy and appropriate recording of decision-making.

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Would You Prescribe Mobile Health Apps for Heart Failure Self-care? An Integrated Review of Commercially Available Mobile Technology for Heart Failure Patients

Cited by 40 publications

References 19 publications

Analysis of Apps With a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults With Heart Failure Using the Mobile App Rating Scale and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score: Evaluation Study

Analysis of Apps With a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults With Heart Failure Using the Mobile App Rating Scale and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score: Evaluation Study

The Future of Telemedicine in the Management of Heart Failure Patients

Digital Health: Implications for Heart Failure Management

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