Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31311573›Full record

SynthesisBMC medicine2019

Medication management support in diabetes: a systematic assessment of diabetes self-management apps.

Zhilian Huang, Elaine Lum, Geronimo Jimenez, Monika Semwal, Peter Sloot, Josip Car

Abstract readEvaluation StudySystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

23 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Smartphone Apps for Domestic Violence Prevention: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Trial
  7. Trial
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Digital Health Technology in Diabetes Management in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Narrative Review of the Current Scenario and Future Outlook.Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders · 2025
    Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Review
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

6 authors.

Zhilian HuangCentre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 18, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore. ZHUANG014@e.ntu.edu.sg.ORCID 0000-0002-4445-1669
Elaine LumCentre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 18, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore.
Geronimo JimenezCentre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 18, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore.
Monika SemwalCentre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 18, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore.
Peter SlootInstitute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Josip CarCentre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 18, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSmartphone apps are becoming increasingly popular for supporting diabetes self-management. A key aspect of diabetes self-management is appropriate medication-taking. This study aims to systematically assess and characterise the medication management features in diabetes self-management apps and their congruence with best-practice evidence-based criteria.

methodsThe Google Play and Apple app stores were searched in June 2018 using diabetes-related terms in the English language. Apps with both medication and blood glucose management features were downloaded and evaluated against assessment criteria derived from international medication management and diabetes guidelines.

resultsOur search yielded 3369 Android and 1799 iOS potentially relevant apps; of which, 143 apps (81 Android, 62 iOS) met inclusion criteria and were downloaded and assessed. Over half 58.0% (83/143) of the apps had a medication reminder feature; 16.8% (24/143) had a feature to review medication adherence; 39.9% (57/143) allowed entry of medication-taking instructions; 5.6% (8/143) provided information about medication; and 4.2% (6/143) displayed motivational messages to encourage medication-taking. Only two apps prompted users on the use of complementary medicine. Issues such as limited medication logging capacity, faulty reminder features, unclear medication adherence assessment, and visually distracting excessive advertising were observed during app assessments.

conclusionsA large proportion of diabetes self-management apps lacked features for enhancing medication adherence and safety. More emphasis should be given to the design of medication management features in diabetes apps to improve their alignment to evidence-based best practice.

Indexed as

Drug MonitoringMedication AdherenceMobile ApplicationsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2HumansSelf CareSelf EfficacySelf-ManagementSmartphoneDiabetesDigital healthEvidence-based guidanceHealth appsMedication adherence

Identifiers

PMID31311573
PMCPMC6636047

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.