Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Jan 31;7(1):e11919. doi: 10.2196/11919.
BACKGROUND: With the accessibility and widespread use of mobile phones, mobile phone apps targeting medication adherence may be useful tools to help patients take medications as prescribed. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to (1) characterize and assess mobile phone medication adherence apps guided by a conceptual framework on the focus of adherence interventions and (2) conduct a content analysis of Web-based reviews to explore users' perspectives and experiences with mobile phone medication adherence apps. METHODS: We searched for mobile phone medication adherence apps using keyword searches in Apple and Android operating systems. We characterized all apps in terms of number of downloads, ratings, languages, cost, and disease target. We categorized apps according to 4 key features of (1) alerting to take medication, (2) tracking medication taking, (3) reminding to refill or indicating amount of medication left, and (4) storing medication information. We then selected representative apps from each operating system for detailed quality assessment and user testing. We also downloaded Web-based reviews for these selected apps and conducted a qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach involving steps of initial open coding, construction of categories, and abstraction into themes. RESULTS: We identified 704 apps (443 from Apple and 261 from Android). The majority of apps across both operating systems had 1 or 2 features-specifically, 37.2% (165/443) and 38.1% (169/443) of Apple apps, respectively, and 41.4% (108/261) and 31.4% (108/261) of Android apps, respectively. Quality assessment and user testing of 20 selected apps revealed apps varied in quality and commonly focused on behavioral strategies to enhance medication adherence through alerts, reminders, and logs. A total of 1323 eligible Web-based reviews from these 20 selected apps were analyzed, and the following themes emerged: (1) features and functions appreciated by users, which included the ability to set up customized medication regimen details and reminders, monitor other health information (eg, vitals, supplements, and manage multiple people or pets), support health care visits (eg, having a list of medications and necessary health information in 1 app); (2) negative user experiences that captured technical difficulties (glitches, confusing app navigation, and poor interoperability), dosage schedule, and reminder setup inflexibility; and (3) desired functions and features related to optimization of information input, improvement of reminders, and upgrading app performance (better synchronization or backup of data and interoperability). CONCLUSIONS: A large number of mobile phone medication adherence apps are currently available. The majority of apps have features representing a behavioral approach to intervention. Findings of the content analysis offer mostly positive feedback as well as insights into current limitations and improvements that could be addressed in current and future medication adherence apps.
背景:随着手机的普及和广泛使用,针对药物依从性的手机应用程序可能是帮助患者按照医嘱服药的有用工具。
目的:我们的目标是(1)根据药物依从性干预重点的概念框架对手机药物依从性应用程序进行描述和评估,以及(2)对基于网络的评论进行内容分析,以探索用户对手机药物依从性应用程序的看法和体验。
方法:我们使用关键词搜索在苹果和安卓操作系统中搜索手机药物依从性应用程序。我们根据下载量、评分、语言、成本和疾病目标对所有应用程序进行了描述。我们根据以下 4 个关键功能对应用程序进行了分类:(1)提醒服药,(2)跟踪服药,(3)提醒补充或指示剩余药物量,以及(4)存储药物信息。然后,我们从每个操作系统中选择具有代表性的应用程序进行详细的质量评估和用户测试。我们还为这些选定的应用程序下载了基于网络的评论,并采用了一种归纳方法进行了定性内容分析,该方法包括初始开放编码、类别构建和抽象到主题。
结果:我们共确定了 704 个应用程序(443 个来自苹果,261 个来自安卓)。大多数应用程序都具有 1 到 2 个功能——分别有 37.2%(165/443)和 38.1%(169/443)的苹果应用程序,以及 41.4%(108/261)和 31.4%(108/261)的安卓应用程序。对 20 个选定应用程序的质量评估和用户测试显示,应用程序的质量参差不齐,通常侧重于通过提醒、提醒和日志来增强药物依从性的行为策略。对这 20 个选定应用程序的 1323 条合格网络评论进行了分析,出现了以下主题:(1)用户赞赏的功能和特性,包括设置自定义药物治疗方案细节和提醒、监测其他健康信息(如生命体征、补充剂和管理多个人或宠物)、支持医疗访问(如在一个应用程序中拥有药物和必要健康信息的清单);(2)负面的用户体验,包括技术困难(故障、应用程序导航混乱和较差的互操作性)、剂量计划和提醒设置缺乏灵活性;以及(3)与优化信息输入、改进提醒和升级应用程序性能相关的期望功能和特性(更好的数据同步或备份以及互操作性)。
结论:目前有大量的手机药物依从性应用程序。大多数应用程序都具有代表干预行为方法的功能。内容分析的结果提供了积极的反馈,以及当前局限性和改进的见解,可以在当前和未来的药物依从性应用程序中得到解决。
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