A review of mobile apps for epilepsy self-management.

Epilepsy Behav

School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 85 Fifth Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States.

Published: April 2018

Mobile health app developers increasingly are interested in supporting the daily self-care of people with chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to review mobile applications (apps) to promote epilepsy self-management. It investigates the following: 1) the available mobile apps for epilepsy, 2) how these apps support patient education and self-management (SM), and 3) their usefulness in supporting management of epilepsy. We conducted the review in Fall 2017 and assessed apps on the Apple App Store that related to the terms "epilepsy" and "seizure". Inclusion criteria included apps (adult and pediatric) that, as follows, were: 1) developed for patients or the community; 2) made available in English, and 3) less than $5.00. Exclusion criteria included apps that were designed for dissemination of publications, focused on healthcare providers, or were available in other languages. The search resulted in 149 apps, of which 20 met the selection criteria. A team reviewed each app in terms of three sets of criteria: 1) epilepsy-specific descriptions and SM categories employed by the apps and 2) Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) subdomain scores for reviewing engagement, functionality, esthetics, and information; and 3) behavioral change techniques. Most apps were for adults and free. Common SM domains for the apps were treatment, seizure tracking, response, and safety. A number of epilepsy apps existed, but many offered similar functionalities and incorporated few SM domains. The findings underline the need for mobile apps to cover broader domains of SM and behavioral change techniques and to be evaluated for outcomes.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.12.010DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

apps
13
mobile apps
12
review mobile
8
apps epilepsy
8
epilepsy self-management
8
epilepsy apps
8
criteria included
8
included apps
8
behavioral change
8
change techniques
8

Similar Publications

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Mobile technologies enable Parkinson's patients to improve their quality of life, manage symptoms, and enhance overall well-being through various applications (apps). There is no integrated list of specific capabilities available to cater to the unique needs of Parkinson's patient-focused mobile apps.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Consumer preference study for the interface design of traditional Chinese medicine applications using conjoint analysis method.

Sci Rep

December 2024

College of Furnishings and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, No.159 Longpan Road, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.

The widespread use of mobile applications (apps) offers a new platform for sustaining traditional culture, yet insufficient focus on interface design has hindered user experience. This paper focuses on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) apps, examining user preferences for interface design elements and their combinations across four dimensions: visual effects, functional attributes, layout, and interaction modes. Utilizing Conjoint Analysis Method (CAM), this study quantitatively explores user preferences for the combination schemes of 18 orthogonal designs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Information propagation dynamics on heterogeneous-homogeneous coupling bi-layer networks.

Sci Rep

December 2024

State Key Laboratory of Media Convergence and Communication, Communication University of China, Beijing, 100024, China.

The proliferation of multi-platform network information has expanded communication channels for users, enabling the integration and dissemination of information across both Social Networking Services (SNS)-type app and Instant Message (IM)-type app. With the intensification of convergent communication, some users in the two types of apps show active alternation in spreading information to each other's platforms. The study of the evolution trend of information in different platforms is of great practical significance for the mastery of the communication law.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Disruptions in cognitive function have been reported in individuals undergoing haemodialysis and those with chronic kidney disease. This pilot study protocol primarily assesses the feasibility and acceptability of using mobile cognitive gaming apps for patient-led cognitive training during haemodialysis sessions. The protocol consists of three phases: (1) reviewing and evaluating available cognitive gaming apps, (2) conducting focus groups/interviews with people with kidney disease to determine app preferences, and (3) undertaking a quasi-experimental randomised controlled trial to compare cognitive outcomes between a patient-led app intervention group and a standard care control group over four months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Beyond Individual Responsibilisation: How Social Relations are Mobilised in Communication About a Dementia Self-Testing App.

Health Care Anal

December 2024

Department for Thematic Studies: Technology and Social Change, Linköping University, Hus T, Campus Valla, Linköping, 58183, Sweden.

Research on mobile health (mHealth) applications has investigated how such technologies contribute to a responsibilisation of users/patients. This literature largely focuses on the individual responsibilities constructed by the apps and the neoliberal environments that enable the positioning of the user as responsible. With this focus, this scholarship is less attentive to the role of social relations in responsibilisation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!