Mobile apps for multiple sclerosis: a focus on self-management (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The explosion of mobile phone users along with the importance of user’s role in managing their health provides a unique opportunity for mHealth applications in the management of chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. OBJECTIVE To identify available MS applications and to characterize the content of MS self-management apps. METHODS Two popular online application stores (iTunes, Google play) were searched for multiple sclerosis-related apps using the following keywords: multiple sclerosis, disseminated multiple sclerosis, disseminated sclerosis, and MS. Apps were considered eligible if they had been customized only on multiple sclerosis. First, data were extracted from the description page for any eligible app. To achieve the study goal, the secondary analysis was performed only for self-management apps. RESULTS The search of two popular markets was identified 1042 applications (747 apps from google play, 295 apps from iTunes). Of these, 104 unique apps met the inclusion criteria. Almost a quarter of eligible applications (26%) had been designed for multiple sclerosis self-management. Other purposes of the identified apps were diagnosis & treatments (7.7%), doing tests (7.7%), connecting & communication for MS patients (4.8%), raise awareness of multiple sclerosis (15.4%), access to journals & news (6.7%), conferences & meetings (17.3%), supporting & donating to MS community (14. 4%). CONCLUSIONS It appears the mobile apps provide a multidimensional tool for the patient with Multiple Sclerosis to improve self-management. These apps can contribute to the empowerment of the patients, and help their adherence to the therapeutic and management regimen of their conditions. Moreover, they can facilitate information gathering of the MS progress pattern on a personal level for each individual patient. This information may provide health care professionals with evidence for helping their patients to enhance self-management of their disease.