Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Apps have been enthusiastically adopted by the general public. They are increasingly recognized by policy-makers as a potential medium for supporting self-management of long-term conditions. We assessed the degree to which current sm...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huckvale Kit, Car Mate, Morrison Cecily, Car Josip
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-11-01
Series:BMC Medicine
Subjects:
app
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/144
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spelling doaj-3d694e0bf2804ddeb4432ac053ad605f2020-11-25T01:55:00ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152012-11-0110114410.1186/1741-7015-10-144Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and toolsHuckvale KitCar MateMorrison CecilyCar Josip<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Apps have been enthusiastically adopted by the general public. They are increasingly recognized by policy-makers as a potential medium for supporting self-management of long-term conditions. We assessed the degree to which current smartphone and tablet apps for people with asthma offer content and tools of appropriate quality to support asthma self-management.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We adapted systematic review methodology to the assessment of apps. We identified English-language asthma apps for all ages through a systematic search of official app stores. We systematically assessed app content using criteria derived from international guidelines and systematic review of strategies for asthma self-management. We covered three domains: comprehensiveness of asthma information, consistency of advice with evidence and compliance with health information best practice principles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 103 apps for asthma in English, of which 56 were sources of information about the condition and 47 provided tools for the management of asthma. No apps offered both types of functionality. Only three information apps approached our definition of comprehensiveness of information about asthma. No apps provided advice on lay management of acute asthma that included details of appropriate reliever medication use. In 32 of 72 instances, apps made unequivocal recommendations about strategies for asthma control or prophylaxis that were unsupported by current evidence. Although 90% of apps stated a clear purpose, compliance with other best practice principles for health information was variable. Contact details were located for 55%, funding source for 18% and confidentiality policy for 17%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>No apps for people with asthma combined reliable, comprehensive information about the condition with supportive tools for self-management. Healthcare professionals considering recommending apps to patients as part of asthma self-management should exercise caution, recognizing that some apps like calculators may be unsafe; that no current app will meet the need of every patient; and that ways of working must be adapted if apps are to be introduced, supported and sustained in routine care. Policy-makers need to consider the potential role for assurance mechanisms in relation to apps. There remains much to be done if apps are to find broad use in clinical practice; clinicians cannot recommend tools that are inaccurate, unsafe or lack an evidence base.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/144appsmartphonemobileehealthasthmasoftware<b>TELEHEALTH</b>
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Huckvale Kit
Car Mate
Morrison Cecily
Car Josip
spellingShingle Huckvale Kit
Car Mate
Morrison Cecily
Car Josip
Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
BMC Medicine
app
smartphone
mobile
ehealth
asthma
software
<b>TELEHEALTH</b>
author_facet Huckvale Kit
Car Mate
Morrison Cecily
Car Josip
author_sort Huckvale Kit
title Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
title_short Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
title_full Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
title_fullStr Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
title_full_unstemmed Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
title_sort apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools
publisher BMC
series BMC Medicine
issn 1741-7015
publishDate 2012-11-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Apps have been enthusiastically adopted by the general public. They are increasingly recognized by policy-makers as a potential medium for supporting self-management of long-term conditions. We assessed the degree to which current smartphone and tablet apps for people with asthma offer content and tools of appropriate quality to support asthma self-management.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We adapted systematic review methodology to the assessment of apps. We identified English-language asthma apps for all ages through a systematic search of official app stores. We systematically assessed app content using criteria derived from international guidelines and systematic review of strategies for asthma self-management. We covered three domains: comprehensiveness of asthma information, consistency of advice with evidence and compliance with health information best practice principles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 103 apps for asthma in English, of which 56 were sources of information about the condition and 47 provided tools for the management of asthma. No apps offered both types of functionality. Only three information apps approached our definition of comprehensiveness of information about asthma. No apps provided advice on lay management of acute asthma that included details of appropriate reliever medication use. In 32 of 72 instances, apps made unequivocal recommendations about strategies for asthma control or prophylaxis that were unsupported by current evidence. Although 90% of apps stated a clear purpose, compliance with other best practice principles for health information was variable. Contact details were located for 55%, funding source for 18% and confidentiality policy for 17%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>No apps for people with asthma combined reliable, comprehensive information about the condition with supportive tools for self-management. Healthcare professionals considering recommending apps to patients as part of asthma self-management should exercise caution, recognizing that some apps like calculators may be unsafe; that no current app will meet the need of every patient; and that ways of working must be adapted if apps are to be introduced, supported and sustained in routine care. Policy-makers need to consider the potential role for assurance mechanisms in relation to apps. There remains much to be done if apps are to find broad use in clinical practice; clinicians cannot recommend tools that are inaccurate, unsafe or lack an evidence base.</p>
topic app
smartphone
mobile
ehealth
asthma
software
<b>TELEHEALTH</b>
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/144
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