TY - JOUR
T1 - Eczema apps conformance with clinical guidelines: a systematic assessment of functions, tools and content
AU - van Galen, L. S.
AU - Xu, X.
AU - Koh, M. J. A.
AU - Thng, S.
AU - Car, J.
N1 - Funding Information: 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). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 British Association of Dermatologists Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/2/1
Y1 - 2020/2/1
N2 - 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. What's already known about this topic?. There is limited information about the quality of eczema self-management smartphone apps on the global market. What does this study add?. This systematic assessment evaluated all English, Chinese and Spanish language apps that support eczema self-management. The majority did not conform with information in guidelines and insufficiently support evidence-based self-management. The large variance in the quality of eczema apps highlights the need for mechanisms to ensure app quality and to guide personalized app selection for patients, caregivers and doctors.
AB - 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. What's already known about this topic?. There is limited information about the quality of eczema self-management smartphone apps on the global market. What does this study add?. This systematic assessment evaluated all English, Chinese and Spanish language apps that support eczema self-management. The majority did not conform with information in guidelines and insufficiently support evidence-based self-management. The large variance in the quality of eczema apps highlights the need for mechanisms to ensure app quality and to guide personalized app selection for patients, caregivers and doctors.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069843226&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.18152
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.18152
M3 - Article
C2 - 31179535
SN - 0007-0963
VL - 182
SP - 444
EP - 453
JO - British Journal of Dermatology
JF - British Journal of Dermatology
IS - 2
ER -