Table 2.
Mobile app characteristics in the included randomized controlled trials.
| Source | App name and functionality | Platform used with the app and functionality | Overall system functionality | Involvement of HCPa |
| Brath et al [19] | Name not specified, referred to as a mobile phone–based data gateway. Reader and transmitter of data from electronic medication blister to a remote database | Remote telemonitoring service: data sent from the app to platform and then analyzed for timing and number of pills taken, and an automatic reminder is sent to patients via SMS text messages | Reminder | Physician |
| Chandler et al [20] | SMASHb app: medication reminders via signals (blinking light, intermittent chime, automated SMS text messages, or phone call) and BPc monitor reminders via SMS text messages. The app provided timely tailored motivational and reinforcement SMS text messages based on the levels of medication adherence and SMS text message reminders to monitor BP with a Bluetooth-enabled BP device. The app also provided a cumulative table of average BP displayed in categories of daily, weekly, and/or monthly progress reports | HIPAAd-compliant servers: BP data sent from the app to platform, then analyzed for processing with timestamps, providing information for the calculation of adherence levels to the BP protocol | Reminder | Not stated |
| Fang and Li [21] | Name not specified, referred to as a messaging app: medication reminders via an SMS text messaging app, educational materials via micro letter | Huaxi-gold card: the platform sent SMS text messages, images, media content related to disease and other information at regular intervals | Reminder and education | Physician and nurse |
| Frias et al [22] | Proteus Discover app: reader and transmitter of the patient’s adherence data from patch to the cloud and prompted the patient to take their medication doses as scheduled. Patients could visualize their data on their mobile devices via the app | Provider web portal: provider views summaries of the DMOe data for the patients on the web portal | Reminder and education | Clinic staff, pharmacist had a role in set up (coencapsulation of ingestible sensor and medication) |
| Goldstein et al [23] | Name not specified, referred to as a medication adherence app. Medication reminders provided via alert, patients could view list of medications with instructions, and they were able to record taking their medication | No platform | Reminder and education | Not stated |
| Guo et al [24] | mAF app: educational app used by both patients and physicians: For patients, personal health record (CHA2DS2-VAScf, HAS-BLEDg, and SAMe-TT2R2h scores), patient educational programs (knowledge of atrial fibrillation and learn how to manage themselves at home), patient involvement in self-care items (monitor their heart rate, BP, and their quality of life), and structured follow-up consultation via a sent alert reminder. For physicians, clinical decision support | Cloud platform: data management | Education | Physician |
| Johnston et al [25] | Name not specified, referred to as an interactive patient support tool app: medication reminders via SMS text messages (e-diary) to register daily ticagrelor intake. Secondary prevention educational modules (exercise module, BMI module, and BP module) | No platform | Reminder and education | Physician and nurse |
| Kim et al [26] | HealthyCircles: an educational app that allowed patients and nurses to access the patient’s reading recorded on the BP monitor devices. The BP measurements are wirelessly uploaded from BP devices to the HealthyCircles account | HealthyCircles platform: the platform sent reminders for self-monitoring BP, education information about the disease condition, and general health behavior recommendations | Education | Families, caregivers, and HCPs (profession not specified) |
| Labovitz et al [27] | Artificial intelligence app: medication reminders and dosing instructions via SMS text messages. Late doses generated notifications within the hour and before the end of the dosing window | Artificial intelligence platform: the platform sent an automatic SMS text message or emails to clinical staff if doses were missed, late, or based on incorrect use | Reminder | Clinic staff (profession not specified) |
| Liu et al [28] | HeartGuardian app: medication reminders via SMS text messages. The app provided educational materials; medication recording and daily feedback; and self-empowerment via automatic intelligent, real-time video feedback based on the subjects’ medication adherence | No platform | Reminder and education | Not stated |
| Márquez Contreras et al [29] | AlerHTA app: medication and appointments reminders via alerts. The app recorded patients’ personal data, the physician’s advice about the prescribed treatment, and the results of the BP measurement. The app recommended BP levels as objectives | No platform | Reminder and education | Physician |
| Mertens et al [30] | iNephro medication plan app: medication reminders via alert, to support the drug intake needs of patients with chronic conditions on polypharmacy | No platform | Reminder | Physician |
| Morawski et al [31] | Medisafe app: medication reminders via alert. The app provided alerts to remind patients when it is time to take medications and generate weekly adherence reports, the app also allowed for tracking of BP and other biometric measurements | No platform | Reminder | Not stated |
| Ni et al [32] | BB reminder app and WeChat app: medication reminders via SMS text messages through the BB reminder app. Educational materials through the WeChat app | No platform | Reminder and education | Physician and nurse |
| Santo et al [33] | No specified name. Referred to as a medication reminder app. Medication reminders provided via alert. In the basic app, the reminders were noninteractive and occurred 1 time only, whereas the advanced app provided interactive and customizable features including daily reminders, which could be snoozed, rescheduled, and/or marked as a taken or missed dose; medication refill reminders; adherence statistics; and ability to share information with others such as family members, if the patient missed a medication dose | No platform | Reminder | Not stated |
| Sarfo et al [34] | No specified name. Referred to as medical regimen assistance app. Medication reminders provided via SMS text messages. The app reported BP measurements and medication intake and sent written and oral information on adherence criteria to take the medications within 2 hours of designated times and to measure BP every 3 days in the morning and evening | No platform | Reminder | Nurse |
aHCP: health care professional.
bSMASH: Smartphone Medication Adherence Stops Hypertension.
cBP: blood pressure.
dHIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability.
eDMO: digital medicine offering system.
fCHA2DS2-VASc: congestive heart failure, hypertension, age>75 years (doubled), type 2 diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism (doubled), vascular disease, age of 65-75 years, and sex.
gHAS-BLED: Hypertension, abnormal renal or liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, age>65 years, drugs or alcohol concomitantly.
hSAMe-TT2R2: sex, age, medical history, treatment, tobacco use, and race.