Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content

Background: Eczema is a prevalent complex skin condition requiring active disease monitoring and personalized education. No studies have assessed the quality of apps that aim to support eczema self-management.Objectives: To evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of English, Chinese and Spanish s...

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Main Authors: van Galen, Louise Sandra, Xu, Xiaomeng, Koh, Mark Jean Aan, Thng, Steven, Car, Josip
Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2021
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/152161
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-1521612021-09-14T08:46:26Z Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content van Galen, Louise Sandra Xu, Xiaomeng Koh, Mark Jean Aan Thng, Steven Car, Josip Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) Centre for Population Health Sciences Science::Medicine Atopic Dermatitis Smartphone Apps Background: Eczema is a prevalent complex skin condition requiring active disease monitoring and personalized education. No studies have assessed the quality of apps that aim to support eczema self-management.Objectives: To evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of English, Chinese and Spanish self-management eczema smartphone apps for patients and/or their caregivers. Methods: A systematic assessment of eczema apps from July 2018 to November 2018. The assessment criteria were based on conformance with international eczema guidelines. The following domains were assessed: consistency and comprehensiveness of eczema-specific educational information; quality and comprehensiveness of eczema-specific tracking functions; compliance with health information best practice principles. Results: In total, 98 apps were assessed: 82 (84%) provided educational information; 38 (39%) tracking functions; and 13 (13%) both. We found that 34% (28/82) of apps provided misleading information, particularly regarding aspects of treatment and disease progression of eczema. Only 15% (12/82) provided international guideline supported information on pharmacological therapies and 16% (13/82) on nonpharmacological therapies. Among 38 apps with a tracking function, 82% (31/38) measured specific symptoms, disease severity or current skin condition and 89% (34/38) helped users to record medication usage including application of topicals. Environmental or dietary allergens were recorded by 34% (13/38). None of the included apps complied with all criteria for educational information, tracking functions or health information principles. Conclusions: Eczema apps have not yet reached their potential. The large variance in quality of eczema apps highlights the need for quality assurance mechanisms for health apps and guidance for clinicians that would enable them to make personalized recommendations for patients and caregivers. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Nanyang Technological University This research was supported through the NTU Research Scholarship by Nanyang Technological University and the Skin Research Grant by the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), a tripartite partnership between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National Healthcare Group through its National Skin Centre (NHG) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). 2021-09-14T08:46:26Z 2021-09-14T08:46:26Z 2019 Journal Article van Galen, L. S., Xu, X., Koh, M. J. A., Thng, S. & Car, J. (2019). Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content. British Journal of Dermatology, 182(2), 444-453. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjd.18152 0007-0963 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/152161 10.1111/bjd.18152 31179535 2-s2.0-85069843226 2 182 444 453 en British Journal of Dermatology © 2019 British Association of Dermatologists. All rights reserved.
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Science::Medicine
Atopic Dermatitis
Smartphone Apps
spellingShingle Science::Medicine
Atopic Dermatitis
Smartphone Apps
van Galen, Louise Sandra
Xu, Xiaomeng
Koh, Mark Jean Aan
Thng, Steven
Car, Josip
Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
description Background: Eczema is a prevalent complex skin condition requiring active disease monitoring and personalized education. No studies have assessed the quality of apps that aim to support eczema self-management.Objectives: To evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of English, Chinese and Spanish self-management eczema smartphone apps for patients and/or their caregivers. Methods: A systematic assessment of eczema apps from July 2018 to November 2018. The assessment criteria were based on conformance with international eczema guidelines. The following domains were assessed: consistency and comprehensiveness of eczema-specific educational information; quality and comprehensiveness of eczema-specific tracking functions; compliance with health information best practice principles. Results: In total, 98 apps were assessed: 82 (84%) provided educational information; 38 (39%) tracking functions; and 13 (13%) both. We found that 34% (28/82) of apps provided misleading information, particularly regarding aspects of treatment and disease progression of eczema. Only 15% (12/82) provided international guideline supported information on pharmacological therapies and 16% (13/82) on nonpharmacological therapies. Among 38 apps with a tracking function, 82% (31/38) measured specific symptoms, disease severity or current skin condition and 89% (34/38) helped users to record medication usage including application of topicals. Environmental or dietary allergens were recorded by 34% (13/38). None of the included apps complied with all criteria for educational information, tracking functions or health information principles. Conclusions: Eczema apps have not yet reached their potential. The large variance in quality of eczema apps highlights the need for quality assurance mechanisms for health apps and guidance for clinicians that would enable them to make personalized recommendations for patients and caregivers.
author2 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
author_facet Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
van Galen, Louise Sandra
Xu, Xiaomeng
Koh, Mark Jean Aan
Thng, Steven
Car, Josip
format Article
author van Galen, Louise Sandra
Xu, Xiaomeng
Koh, Mark Jean Aan
Thng, Steven
Car, Josip
author_sort van Galen, Louise Sandra
title Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
title_short Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
title_full Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
title_fullStr Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
title_full_unstemmed Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
title_sort eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines : a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
publishDate 2021
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/152161
_version_ 1712300626752307200