There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .
Clinical and cost effectiveness of mobile phone supported self monitoring of asthma: multicentre randomised controlled trial
Objective To determine whether mobile phone based monitoring improves asthma control compared with st and ard paper based monitoring strategies . Design Multicentre r and omised controlled trial with cost effectiveness analysis . Setting UK primary care . Participants 288 adolescents and adults with poorly controlled asthma ( asthma control question naire ( ACQ ) score ≥1.5 ) from 32 practice s. Intervention Participants were central ly r and omised to twice daily recording and mobile phone based transmission of symptoms , drug use , and peak flow with immediate feedback prompting action according to an agreed plan or paper based monitoring . Main outcome measures Changes in scores on asthma control question naire and self efficacy ( knowledge , attitude , and self efficacy asthma question naire ( KASE-AQ ) ) at six months after r and omisation . Assessment of outcomes was blinded . Analysis was on an intention to treat basis . Results There was no significant difference in the change in asthma control or self efficacy between the two groups ( ACQ : mean change 0.75 in mobile group v 0.73 in paper group , mean difference in change −0.02 ( 95 % confidence interval −0.23 to 0.19 ) ; KASE-AQ score : mean change −4.4 v −2.4 , mean difference 2.0 ( −0.3 to 4.2 ) ) . The numbers of patients who had acute exacerbations , steroid courses , and unscheduled consultations were similar in both groups , with similar healthcare costs . Overall , the mobile phone service was more expensive because of the expenses of telemonitoring . Conclusions Mobile technology does not improve asthma control or increase self efficacy compared with paper based monitoring when both groups received clinical care to guidelines st and ards . The mobile technology was not cost effective . Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT00512837
There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .