Table 3.

Overview of studies reporting on medical (interventions) apps related to pregnancy: effectiveness.

Author and year	Technique	Focus	Effectiveness
Zairina et al, 2015 [38]	Telehealth program in which daily lung functions were recorded and uploaded, and then, the participant’s health care professional was contacted by a member of the research team if any medication changes or unscheduled asthma-related visits were needed	Asthma	The changes in ACQa score from baseline to 3 months for MASTERY and usual care groups were 0.01±0.11 and 0.16± 0.09, respectively. No significant difference in lung function was observed
Homko et al, 2007 [39]	Daily monitoring of blood glucose levels, recording insulin levels and episodes of hypoglycemia, and transmission of the measures to the diabetes health network (with health care providers involved in this network) at least 3 times a week	Diabetes	There was no significant difference between the 2 groups’ blood glucose values and HbA1c levels. Significantly more women in the internet group received insulin therapy (31% vs 4%; P<.05). There were no significant differences in pregnancy and neonatal outcomes between the 2 groups
Perez-Ferre et al, 2010 [40]	A telemedicine system for the transmission of capillary glucose data and short text messages with weekly professional feedback	Diabetes	There was no difference in maternal metabolic parameters or in pregnancy outcomes
Homko et al, 2012 [41]	Data transfer from patient to practice and practice to patient to send blood glucose and other health data directly to health care providers to receive information or advice from the health care provider via the internet or phone	Diabetes	There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to maternal blood glucose values or infant birth weight
Carral et al, 2015 [42]	Website which allows remote and bidirectional communication between health care professionals and patients with diabetes, offering the patient the possibility of sending blood glucose values, insulin doses, and other health data that can be evaluated remotely by doctors and nurses in an asynchronous manner	Diabetes	There was no significant difference in HbA1c levels. Significantly less insulin treatment and less health care visits in intervention group were observed
Nicholson et al, 2016 [36]	Web lessons, self-tracking of weight and glucose, automated feedback, and access to a message board for peer support	Diabetes	Average gestational weight gain for all participants was 19.9±13.2 lb. There was no statistically significant difference between baseline and 36 weeks of gestation in HbA1c levels
Stockwell et al, 2014 [43]	In total, 5 weekly text messages regarding influenza vaccination and 2 text message appointment reminders (intervention group); invitation for vaccination through the health care provider (control group)	Vaccination	Women in the intervention group were more likely to receive an influenza vaccination (adjusted odds ratio, AOR 1.3, CI 1.003-1.69)
Jordan et al, 2015 [44]	An encouragement message or an encouragement messages plus the opportunity to schedule a reminder	Vaccination	There was no significant increase of the odds of vaccination at follow-up. Significant increase of continued intent to be vaccinated later in the season (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1)
Yudin et al, 2017 [45]	In total, 2 messages weekly for 4 consecutive weeks reinforcing that the influenza vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women and safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding vs no messages	Vaccination	There was no significant difference between the intervention and control group

^aACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire.