What Features of Smartphone Medication Applications Are Patients with Chronic Diseases and Caregivers Looking for?

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2016:225:515-9.

Abstract

We explored the desired features of medication applications for patients with chronic disease and their caregivers with a questionnaire survey, 50 from patients and 50 from their caregivers. Although the majority of people (75%) are willing to use medication apps, the actual usage rate is quite low (11%). Worrying about privacy of personal information seems to be the main reason of not using applications. The overall score desired for use was 3.29 ± 1.02 (out of 5). Searching medications and diseases and assistance with making doctors' appointments are the most wanted categories. Online shopping for drugs and delivery were the least desired items. The main concerns for people who do not want certain features include: they are not useful, worrying about buying counterfeit drugs and reliability of content. Compared with patients, caregivers seems to be more concerned on nutrition tips for chronic illness, fall detection, and privacy protection (P < 0.05 for all).

MeSH terms

  • Caregivers / statistics & numerical data*
  • China
  • Chronic Disease / therapy*
  • Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Electronic Prescribing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Mobile Applications / statistics & numerical data
  • Needs Assessment
  • Reminder Systems / statistics & numerical data*
  • Smartphone / statistics & numerical data*