Abstract
BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious long-term lung disease in which the airflow from the lungs is progressively reduced. By 2030, COPD will become the third cause of mortality and seventh cause of morbidity worldwide. With advances in technology and mobile communications, significant progress in the mobile health (mHealth) sector has been recently observed. Mobile phones with app capabilities (smartphones) are now considered as potential media for the self-management of certain types of diseases such as asthma, cancer, COPD, or cardiovascular diseases. While many mobile apps for patients with COPD are currently found on the market, there is little published material on the effectiveness of most of them, their features, and their adoption in health care settings.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to search the literature for current systems related to COPD and identify any missing links and studies that were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of COPD mobile apps. In addition, we reviewed existing mHealth apps from different stores in order to identify features that can be considered in the initial design of a COPD support tool to improve health care services and patient outcomes.MethodsIn total, 206 articles related to COPD management systems were identified from different databases. Irrelevant materials and duplicates were excluded. Of those, 38 articles were reviewed to extract important features. We identified 214 apps from online stores. Following exclusion of irrelevant apps, 48 were selected and 20 of them were downloaded to review some of their common features.ResultsOur review found that out of the 20 apps downloaded, 13 (65%, 13/20) had an education section, 5 (25%, 5/20) consisted of medication and guidelines, 6 (30%, 6/20) included a calendar or diary and other features such as reminders or symptom tracking. There was little published material on the effectiveness of the identified COPD apps. Features such as (1) a social networking tool; (2) personalized education; (3) feedback; (4) e-coaching; and (5) psychological motivation to enhance behavioral change were found to be missing in many of the downloaded apps.ConclusionsThis paper summarizes the features of a COPD patient-support mobile app that can be taken into consideration for the initial design of an integrated care system to encourage the self-management of their condition at home.
Highlights
Global surveillance, prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases : a comprehensive approach / Jean Bousquet and Nikolai Khaltaev editors
Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)’s approach: to promote an integrated approach that capitalizes upon strategic synergies on prevention and control between chronic respiratory diseases and other chronic diseases; and to consider especially the needs of low and middle income countries and vulnerable populations, fostering country-specific initiatives that are tailored to local needs
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the fifth cause of death in 2002 and it is projected to be the fourth cause of mortality by 2030 [104]
Summary
KEY MESSAGES 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Chronic diseases are the major cause of premature adult deaths in all regions of the world They have generally been neglected on the international health and development agenda. Lost opportunities for young members of the household who leave school in order to care for adults who are ill or who go to work to help the household economy These costs are significant in high income countries where people are protected by social security systems. Chronic respiratory diseases in particular place a grave economic burden on countries because of the major effect of occupational lung diseases This burden will increase if no action is taken.The evidence is clear.Action is urgently needed to avoid an adverse impact on national economic development
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