Rachel Tan1, Biljana Cvetkovski1, Vicky Kritikos1,2, Robyn E O'Hehir3,4, Olga Lourenço5,6, Jean Bousquet7, Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich1,8. 1. Quality Use of Respiratory Medicine Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3. Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 4. Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 5. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. 6. CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. 7. MACVIA-France, Contre les MAladies Chroniques Pour un VIeillissement Actif en France European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Reference Site, Montpellier, France. 8. Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
Objective: People with allergic rhinitis (AR) often self-manage in the community pharmacy setting without consulting health care professionals and trivialize their comorbidities such as asthma. A mobile health application (mHealth app) with a self-monitoring and medication adherence system can assist with the appropriate self-management of AR and asthma. This study aimed to identify an app effective for the self-management of AR and/or asthma. Methods: MHealth apps retrieved from the Australian Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store were included in this study if they were developed for self-management of AR and/or asthma; in English language; free of charge for the full version; and accessible to users of the mHealth app. The mHealth app quality was evaluated on three domains using a two-stage process. In Stage 1, the apps were ranked along Domain 1 (Accessibility in both app stores). In Stage 2, the apps with Stage 1, maximum score were ranked along Domain 2 (alignment with theoretical principles of the self-management of AR and/or asthma) and Domain 3 (usability of the mHealth app using Mobile App Rating Scale instrument). Results: Of the 418 apps retrieved, 31 were evaluated in Stage 1 and 16 in Stage 2. The MASK-air achieved the highest mean rank and covered all self-management principles except the doctor's appointment reminder and scored a total MARS mean score of 0.91/1.Conclusions: MASK-air is ranked most highly across the assessment domains for the self-management of both AR and coexisting asthma. This mHealth app covers the majority of the self-management principles and is highly engaging.
Objective: People with allergic rhinitis (AR) often self-manage in the community pharmacy setting without consulting health care professionals and trivialize their comorbidities such as asthma. A mobile health application (mHealth app) with a self-monitoring and medication adherence system can assist with the appropriate self-management of AR and asthma. This study aimed to identify an app effective for the self-management of AR and/or asthma. Methods: MHealth apps retrieved from the Australian Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store were included in this study if they were developed for self-management of AR and/or asthma; in English language; free of charge for the full version; and accessible to users of the mHealth app. The mHealth app quality was evaluated on three domains using a two-stage process. In Stage 1, the apps were ranked along Domain 1 (Accessibility in both app stores). In Stage 2, the apps with Stage 1, maximum score were ranked along Domain 2 (alignment with theoretical principles of the self-management of AR and/or asthma) and Domain 3 (usability of the mHealth app using Mobile App Rating Scale instrument). Results: Of the 418 apps retrieved, 31 were evaluated in Stage 1 and 16 in Stage 2. The MASK-air achieved the highest mean rank and covered all self-management principles except the doctor's appointment reminder and scored a total MARS mean score of 0.91/1.Conclusions: MASK-air is ranked most highly across the assessment domains for the self-management of both AR and coexisting asthma. This mHealth app covers the majority of the self-management principles and is highly engaging.
Entities:
Keywords:
Allergic rhinitis; asthma; health care professionals; mobile health applications; self-management; suboptimal management
Authors: Sarah N Boers; Karin R Jongsma; Federica Lucivero; Jiska Aardoom; Frederike L Büchner; Martine de Vries; Persijn Honkoop; Elisa J F Houwink; Marise J Kasteleyn; Eline Meijer; Hilary Pinnock; Martina Teichert; Paul van der Boog; Sanne van Luenen; Rianne M J J van der Kleij; Niels H Chavannes Journal: Eur J Gen Pract Date: 2019-10-30 Impact factor: 1.904