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Mobile health applications for caring of older people: review and comparison

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 18:04 authored by Anthony Berauk, VL, Murugiah, MK, Soh, YC, Chuan Sheng, Y, Wong, TW, Ming, LC

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.

History

Publication title

Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science

Volume

52

Pagination

374-382

ISSN

2168-4790

Department/School

School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Publisher

Sage Publications, Inc.

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2017 The Authors

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Health related to ageing

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    University Of Tasmania

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