Mobile health apps for self-management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: systematic literature review

Najm, A. , Gossec, L., Weill, C., Benoist, D., Berenbaum, F. and Nikiphorou, E. (2019) Mobile health apps for self-management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: systematic literature review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(11), e14730. (doi: 10.2196/14730) (PMID:31769758) (PMCID:PMC6904900)

Abstract

Background: Although the increasing availability of mobile health (mHealth) apps may enable people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) to better self-manage their health, there is a general lack of evidence on ways to ensure appropriate development and evaluation of apps. Objective: This study aimed to obtain an overview on existing mHealth apps for self-management in patients with RMDs, focusing on content and development methods. Methods: A search was performed up to December 2017 across 5 databases. For each publication relevant to an app for RMDs, information on the disease, purpose, content, and development strategies was extracted and qualitatively assessed. Results: Of 562 abstracts, 32 were included in the analysis. Of these 32 abstracts, 11 (34%) referred to an app linked to a connected device. Most of the apps targeted rheumatoid arthritis (11/32, 34%). The top three aspects addressed by the apps were pain (23/32, 71%), fatigue (15/32, 47%), and physical activity (15/32, 47%). The development process of the apps was described in 84% (27/32) of the articles and was of low to moderate quality in most of the cases. Despite most of the articles having been published within the past two years, only 5 apps were still commercially available at the time of our search. Moreover, only very few studies showed improvement of RMD outcome measures. Conclusions: The development process of most apps was of low or moderate quality in many studies. Owing to the increasing RMD patients’ willingness to use mHealth apps for self-management, optimal standards and quality assurance of new apps are mandatory.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Najm, Dr Aurelie
• Authors: Najm, A., Gossec, L., Weill, C., Benoist, D., Berenbaum, F., and Nikiphorou, E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
• Publisher: JMIR Publications
• ISSN: 2291-5222
• Published Online: 26 November 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © Aurélie Najm, Laure Gossec, Catherine Weill, David Benoist, Francis Berenbaum, Elena Nikiphorou 2019
• First Published: First published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth 7(11): e14730
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence