Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison

Background: Mobile devices and applications (apps) that act as access tools for health care management aid in the improvement of clinical decision making and patient outcomes. However, the tremendous amount of mobile health (mHealth) apps available in commercial app stores makes it hard for the lay...

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Published in:Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science
Main Author: Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications Inc. 2018
Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042372363&doi=10.1177%2f2168479017725556&partnerID=40&md5=34ea55a32a146009e6f1e1a54367b8f3
id 2-s2.0-85042372363
spelling 2-s2.0-85042372363
Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
2018
Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science
52
3
10.1177/2168479017725556
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042372363&doi=10.1177%2f2168479017725556&partnerID=40&md5=34ea55a32a146009e6f1e1a54367b8f3
Background: Mobile devices and applications (apps) that act as access tools for health care management aid in the improvement of clinical decision making and patient outcomes. However, the tremendous amount of mobile health (mHealth) apps available in commercial app stores makes it hard for the lay users as well as health care professionals to choose the right one for their individual needs. The contents and features of these apps have not been systematically reviewed and compared. This study aims to assess the contents and features of mHealth apps for caring of older people. Methods: A review and comparison of mHealth apps for caring of older people available in Google’s Play Store (Android system) and Apple’s App Store (iOS system) were performed. Systematic review of previous relevant literature were conducted. The assessment criteria used for comparison were requirement for Internet connection, information of disease, size of app, diagnostics and assessment tools, medical calculator, dosage recommendations and indications, clinical updates, drugs interaction checker, and information on disease management. Results: Twenty-five mHealth apps were assessed. Medscape and Skyscape Medical Library are the most comprehensive mHealth apps for general drug information, medical references, clinical score, and medical calculator. Alzheimer’s Disease Pocketcard and Confusion: Delirium & Dementia: A Bedside Guide apps are recommended for clinical assessment, diagnosis, drug information, and management of geriatric patients with Alzheimer disease, delirium, and dementia. Conclusions: More studies about mHealth apps for caring of older people are warranted to ensure the quality and reliability of the mHealth apps. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
SAGE Publications Inc.
21684790
English
Article

author Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
spellingShingle Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
author_facet Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
author_sort Anthony Berauk V.L.; Murugiah M.K.; Soh Y.C.; Chuan Sheng Y.; Wong T.W.; Ming L.C.
title Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
title_short Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
title_full Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
title_fullStr Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
title_full_unstemmed Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
title_sort Mobile Health Applications for Caring of Older People: Review and Comparison
publishDate 2018
container_title Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science
container_volume 52
container_issue 3
doi_str_mv 10.1177/2168479017725556
url https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042372363&doi=10.1177%2f2168479017725556&partnerID=40&md5=34ea55a32a146009e6f1e1a54367b8f3
description Background: Mobile devices and applications (apps) that act as access tools for health care management aid in the improvement of clinical decision making and patient outcomes. However, the tremendous amount of mobile health (mHealth) apps available in commercial app stores makes it hard for the lay users as well as health care professionals to choose the right one for their individual needs. The contents and features of these apps have not been systematically reviewed and compared. This study aims to assess the contents and features of mHealth apps for caring of older people. Methods: A review and comparison of mHealth apps for caring of older people available in Google’s Play Store (Android system) and Apple’s App Store (iOS system) were performed. Systematic review of previous relevant literature were conducted. The assessment criteria used for comparison were requirement for Internet connection, information of disease, size of app, diagnostics and assessment tools, medical calculator, dosage recommendations and indications, clinical updates, drugs interaction checker, and information on disease management. Results: Twenty-five mHealth apps were assessed. Medscape and Skyscape Medical Library are the most comprehensive mHealth apps for general drug information, medical references, clinical score, and medical calculator. Alzheimer’s Disease Pocketcard and Confusion: Delirium & Dementia: A Bedside Guide apps are recommended for clinical assessment, diagnosis, drug information, and management of geriatric patients with Alzheimer disease, delirium, and dementia. Conclusions: More studies about mHealth apps for caring of older people are warranted to ensure the quality and reliability of the mHealth apps. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
publisher SAGE Publications Inc.
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