Asthma and Allergy Mobile Apps in 2018

Purpose of Review This paper offers a comprehensive review of interactive mobile allergy and asthma smartphone applications available within the USA in 2018, with an emphasis on interactive asthma apps. Recent Findings Primary care and specialty clinicians interested in introducing digital health apps into their practices will soon have more choices, for Apple® and major electronic medical record software companies are investing heavily in the mobile medical marketplace, guaranteeing personal health information and access to care will always be immediately available in one’s digital hand. Summary Interactive mobile asthma applications are valuable assets for patients and caregivers alike, for they offer immediate communications between patients and those responsible for providing for their needs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11882-019-0840-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


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Does not allow any customisation or requires setting to be input every time 2 Allows insufficient customisation limiting functions 3 Allows basic customisation to function adequately 4 Allows numerous options for customisation 5 Allows complete tailoring to the individual's characteristics/preferences, retains all settings 4. Interactivity: Does it allow user input, provide feedback, contain prompts (reminders, sharing options, notifications, etc.)? Note: these functions need to be customisable and not overwhelming in order to be perfect. App has no chance of achieving its stated goals 2 Description lists some goals, but app has very little chance of achieving them 3 OK. App has clear goals, which may be achievable. 4 App has clearly specified goals, which are measurable and achievable 5 App has specific and measurable goals, which are highly likely to be achieved.

Quality of information: Is app content correct, well written, and relevant to the goal/topic of the app?
N/A There is no information within the app Offers a broad range of information, has some gaps or unnecessary detail; or has no links to more information and resources 5 Comprehensive and concise; contains links to more information and resources

Visual information: Is visual explanation of concepts -through charts/graphs/images/videos, etc. -clear, logical, correct?
N/A There is no visual information within the app (e.g. it only contains audio, or text) 1 Completely unclear/confusing/wrong or necessary but missing 2 Mostly unclear/confusing/wrong 3 OK but often unclear/confusing/wrong 4 Mostly clear/logical/correct with negligible issues 5 Perfectly clear/logical/correct 17. Credibility: Does the app come from a legitimate source (specified in app store description or within the app itself)? N/A 1 Source identified but legitimacy/trustworthiness of source is questionable (e.g. commercial business with vested interest) 2 Appears to come from a legitimate source, but it cannot be verified (e.g. has no webpage) 3 Developed by small NGO/institution (hospital/centre, etc.) /specialised commercial business, funding body 4 Developed by government, university or as above but larger in scale 5 Developed using nationally competitive government or research funding (e.g. Australian Research Council, NHMRC)

Evidence base: Has the app been trialled/tested; must be verified by evidence (in published scientific literature)?
N/A The app has not been trialled/tested 1 The evidence suggests the app does not work 2 App has been trialled (e.g., acceptability, usability, satisfaction ratings) and has partially positive outcomes in studies that are not randomised controlled trials (RCTs), or there is little or no contradictory evidence.

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App has been trialled (e.g., acceptability, usability, satisfaction ratings) and has positive outcomes in studies that are not RCTs, and there is no contradictory evidence. 4 App has been trialled and outcome tested in 1-2 RCTs indicating positive results 5 App has been trialled and outcome tested in > 3 high quality RCTs indicating positive results D. Information mean score = 5.00 * Exclude questions rated as "N/A" from the mean score calculation.
These added items can be adjusted and used to assess the perceived impact of the app on the user's knowledge, attitudes, intentions to change as well as the likelihood of actual change in the target health behaviour. Strongly Agree