Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25243034›Full record

ArticlePharmacy practice2014

Pharmacy Apps: a new frontier on the digital landscape?

Michael J Davies, Matthew Collings, William Fletcher, Hassan Mujtaba

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmacy practice, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
7.1field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 34 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Exploring the Use of Mobile Health Applications in Palestinian Community Pharmacy Practice.Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. The Top Chinese Mobile Health Apps: A Systematic Investigation.Journal of medical Internet research · 2016
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Michael J DaviesThe School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Liverpool ( United Kingdom ). m.davies1@ljmu.ac.uk.
Matthew CollingsThe School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Liverpool ( United Kingdom ).
William FletcherThe School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Liverpool ( United Kingdom ).
Hassan MujtabaThe School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Liverpool ( United Kingdom ).
Liverpool John Moores University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOver the course of recent years smartphone and tablet technology has evolved rapidly. Similarly, the sphere of healthcare is constantly developing and striving to embrace the newest forms of technology in order to optimise function. Many opportunities for mobile applications (i.e. 'apps') pertinent to the healthcare sector are now emerging.

objectiveThis study will consider whether registered pharmacists within the United Kingdom (UK) believe it appropriate to use mobile apps during the provision of healthcare within the community setting.

methodsFurther to Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) ethical approval, the 30 item questionnaire was distributed to UK registered pharmacists (n=600) practising within inner city Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. The questions were formatted as multiple choice, Likert scales or the open answer type. On questionnaire completion and return, data were analysed using simple frequencies, cross tabulations and non-parametric techniques in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (v18).

resultsThe majority of respondents (78.4% of 211 participants) confirmed that they were confident when using mobile apps on their technology platform. In general, mobile apps were perceived to be useful in facilitating patient consultations (55%) and supporting healthcare education (80%). The main barrier for mobile app use within the workplace was company policy, deemed significant in the case of regional / national chain pharmacies (p<0.001). Pharmacists alluded to the fact that whilst mobile apps demonstrate potential in modern day practise, they will have a greater impact in the future (p<0.001).

conclusionThe data indicate that although pharmacists are supportive of mobile apps in healthcare, a number of factors (i.e. risk, company policy and lack of regulation) may preclude their use in modern day pharmacy practise. Clearly, limitations of the technology must be addressed in order to maximise uptake within healthcare systems. Pharmacists suggest that as the younger generation ages, mobile apps will become a more accepted method by which to manage healthcare in the wider population.

Indexed as

Cellular PhoneComputersHandheldPharmacistsProfessional PracticeUnited Kingdom

Identifiers

PMID25243034
PMCPMC4161411
OpenAlexW2021283762

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.