Functions of mHealth Diabetes Apps That Enable the Provision of Pharmaceutical Care: Criteria Development and Evaluation of Popular Apps

Bushra Ali Sherazi, Stephanie Laeer, Svea Krutisch, Armin Dabidian, Sabina Schlottau and Emina Obarcanin ()
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Bushra Ali Sherazi: Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Stephanie Laeer: Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Svea Krutisch: Meala GmbH, Dolziger Str. 7, 10247 Berlin, Germany
Armin Dabidian: Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Sabina Schlottau: Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Emina Obarcanin: Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Personal digital health apps for managing diabetes should include functions that enable the provision of pharmaceutical care services and allow within-app communication with pharmacists and other healthcare providers, thereby improving patient outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to assess the functions of diabetes apps that were relevant to providing pharmaceutical care services (i.e., medication management, adherence, non-pharmacological management, interoperability, and communication). Sixteen criteria related to pharmaceutical care were developed and then used to assess ten popular diabetes apps. The highest numbers of pharmaceutical care criteria were met by the apps Diabetes:M and mySugr (11 criteria); Contour™Diabetes, Dario Health, and OneTouch Reveal ® (ten); and DiabetesConnect and ESYSTA (nine); followed by Glucose Buddy (eight), meala (seven), and lumind (three). The most prevalent functions were related to promoting adherence and non-pharmacological management, but most criteria relevant to medication management were lacking. Five apps allowed within-app communication between patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs); however, no app included communication with pharmacists. High-quality diabetes apps are powerful tools to support pharmaceutical care and remotely monitor diabetes patients. Improvements are needed as they often lack many medication management functions, including within-app communication with HCPs (especially pharmacists). To maximize diabetes app use and improve outcomes, app developers should consider including pharmacists alongside other healthcare providers when customizing app designs.

Keywords: pharmaceutical care; mobile apps; diabetes apps; mHealth; adherence; patient preferences; medication management; interoperability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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