Congestive Heart Failure Monitoring Using APPs Essay

Section 1: Article Reviews

There is a wealth of information in literature covering the topic of mobile healthcare applications. A good example of this is the article, “Can Mobile Heath Technologies Transform Health Care” by Steinhubl, Muse, and Topol (2013). The article covers mobile health technologies and how it can transform healthcare for clinicians and patients. Although not a study, the informational article helps provide a gauge of where current research is taking mobile health technologies. Steinhubl, Muse, and Topol (2013) discuss how patients with chronic ailments can check their biometric information like blood glucose, and blood pressure conveniently from their devices, improving patient satisfaction (Steinhubl, Muse, & Topol, 2013). Such technology leads to better outcomes because of easy monitoring and the added convenience can lead to lower healthcare expenses as well as more increase patient engagement in their care (Steinhubl, Muse, & Topol, 2013).

While the informative article provides current research (Within the last 5 years), it also tends to have some issues. For example, because no study was conducted, it keeps readers from being able to validate such findings, especially when it is their own opinion or interpretation of the data they collected through research. Furthermore, of the information collected, there lacks statistical information to offer an examination of the information neither does the article offer information on its relevance. Informative articles are useful, but this one however, does not gran specific insight into how such applications can play a part in self-care for CHF patients.

The main purpose of the article was to determine if mobile health technologies transform health care. They answered that, but with qualitative data. Therefore, the informative article as a result decreases accuracy and relevancy. They also failed to provide a new direction for researchers to go as well as failed to give enough information on why these devices are so convenient, especially if patients might have problems interacting with its user face.

A second article titled: “Managing Heart Failure on the Go: Usability Issues with mHealth Apps for Older Adults” is a recent study that examined and evaluated usefulness and usability of CHF apps. Divided into three phases, the assessment checked to see if these apps provide easier navigation among other things.

In Phase 1, we identified two apps often used by older adults. In Phase 2, we evaluated these apps according to standard human factors principles. In Phase 3, we conducted usability testing of the apps with six older adults. We report design issues identified in the apps that limit usability by older adults. We encourage mHealth app designers to improve usability by: 1) providing easier navigation, 2) streamlining data entry processes, 3) providing clear recovery from errors, and 4) simplifying visualizations of data patterns (Morey, Barg-Walkow, & Rogers, 2017, p. 1).

Problems with the samples were seen in the number of participants. Only six between the ages of 65-85 years old. Additionally, these participants did not have CHF, further creating inaccuracies in the results. While the multiple questionnaires evaluated things like mobile device proficiency and demographics, there was no real comparison with other, similar studies to determine if these results are accurate across other participation studies especially larger studies. From the results collected the researchers found that participants had trouble with navigation and data entry. These kinds of studies are relevant because it evaluates usability and ease of navigation in CHF apps. Still, because it was a small sample used, limited comparison to other studies, and did not evaluate how a CHF patient would perceive such apps, it is not as accurate as it could be. Therefore, it overall is not as informative or compelling as others that are similar.

Section 2: Annotated Bibliography

Alnosayan, N., Chatterjee, S., Alluhaidan, A., Lee, E., & Houston Feenstra, L. (2017). Design and Usability of a Heart Failure mHealth System: A Pilot Study. JMIR Human Factors, 4(1), e9. doi:10.2196/humanfactors.6481

This article is a pilot study aimed to understand obstacles and offer design considerations for a personalized mHealth system for HF patients once they move back home. Through exploratory interviews with physicians and nurses, patients were asked for various stats like blood glucose, blood pressure, and weight and then had to enter their symptoms. Participants in the pilot study read messages, viewed notifications, and even used tools like a Bluetooth-enabled weight scale that results in the 8 patients feeling satisfied with the program over a 6-month period.

Masterson Creber, R. M., Maurer, M. S., Reading, M., Hiraldo, G., Hickey, K. T., & Iribarren, S. (2016). Review and Analysis of Existing Mobile Phone Apps to Support Heart Failure Symptom Monitoring and Self-Care Management Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 4(2), e74. doi:10.2196/mhealth.5882

This study used the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) to determine a good web-based app. Of the 3636 potentially pertinent programs, the researchers selected thirty-four that fit their criteria. Of the ones selected they found that few met prespecified criteria regarding functionality, content, or quality. The search highlighted a need for continued mapping and refinement to evidence-based strategies.

Morey, S. A., Barg-Walkow, L. H., & Rogers, W. A. (2017). Managing Heart Failure On the Go: Usability Issues with mHealth Apps for Older Adults. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 61(1), 1-5. doi:10.1177/1541931213601496

This study operated in three phases to understand and assess design issues in apps for CHF patients. However, the patients selected did not have CHF. Furthermore, the sample size was small. However, the researchers did suggest streamlining of data entry processes among other things to decrease limitations of usability by older adults.

Scherr, D., Kastner, P., Kollmann, A., Hallas, A., Auer, J., & Krappinger, H. (2009). Effect of Home-Based Telemonitoring Using Mobile Phone Technology on the Outcome of Heart Failure Patients After an Episode of Acute Decompensation: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet…