Lisa Whitehead|Philippa Seaton
The Effectiveness of Self-Management Mobile Phone and Tablet Apps in Long-term Condition Management: A Systematic Review
Edith Cowan University|University of Otago
longterm conditions concomitant management place considerable pressure patients communities health care systems worldwide international clinical guidelines majority longterm conditions recommend inclusion selfmanagement programs routine management selfmanagement programs associated improved health outcomes however successful sustainable transfer research programs clinical practice inconsistent recent developments mobile technology mobile phone tablet computer apps could help developing platform delivery selfmanagement interventions adaptable low cost easily accessiblewe conducted systematic review assess effectiveness mobile phone tablet apps selfmanagement key symptoms longterm conditionswe searched pubmed embase ebsco databases cochrane library joanna briggs institute library randomized controlled trials assessed effectiveness mobile phone tablet apps selfmanagement diabetes mellitus cardiovascular disease chronic lung diseases 20052016 searched registers current ongoing trials well gray literature checked reference lists primary studies review papers additional references last search run february 2016of 9 papers reviewed 6 interventions demonstrated statistically significant improvement primary measure clinical outcome intervention comprised app 3 studies demonstrated statistically significant improvement interventions address diabetes mellitus 59 common followed chronic lung disease 39 cardiovascular disease 19 total 3 studies included multiple intervention groups using permutations intervention involving app duration intervention ranged 6 weeks 1 year final followup data ranged 3 months 1 year sample size ranged 48 288 participantsthe evidence indicates potential apps improving symptom management selfmanagement interventions use apps mhealth potential improve health outcomes among living chronic diseases enhanced symptom control innovation optimization rigorous research around potential apps mhealth technology move field toward reality improved health care delivery outcomes