Skip to main content

As a technologist interested in using technology to improve healthcare outcomes, I am particularly excited by the potential for mobile health applications-or mHealth apps-to help tackle what has traditionally been one of the toughest problems: patient adherence. Non-adherence to medication and treatment can result in considerably worsened health outcomes, complications, increased healthcare costs, and a degraded quality of life.

Now, consider the patient receiving personalized medication reminders, tracking progress toward health goals, and connecting with their provider via a comprehensive yet user-friendly mobile app. This is what mobile mHealth apps can offer in empowering the patient to take responsibility for their health and be more proactive in managing their condition.

Being a software engineer, this does make me cherish the fact that mHealth applications are intuitively and appealingly designed to meet various patients’ needs and preferences. These applications should not be mere digital solutions; they need to be trusted companions that will guide and support each patient on every step of his or her health journey.

Following are some of the key ways in which patient adherence can be improved by the use of mHealth applications:

1. Personal Reminders and Notifications: Timely and personalized reminders have the potential to consider improving medication adherence by prompting patients at prescribed times to take their medications. This can be personalized for different schedules and medication preferences.

2. Tracking progress and gamification: The progress tracked by health goals, like weight or hours exercised, is also a great patient motivator and encouragement of positive behavior. Gamification, rewards, and challenges improve adherence further.

3. Education and Support: Patient education resources include, but are not limited to, medication information, guides for certain conditions, general tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, etc. It is very easy this way to arm the individual patient with knowledge so as to facilitate a more active role in care.

4. Secure Communication with Healthcare Providers: mHealth applications are found to be improving communication with healthcare providers, as even virtual check-in, medication adjustment, and timely intervention can be made possible through these mobile applications.

5. Wearable Device and Sensor Integration: Once wearable devices and sensors are integrated into the applications of mHealth, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, it would also mean continuous monitoring of vital signs and activity levels, thus helping gain valuable insight into a patient’s health and adherence.

However, with consideration of the following critical success factors, it can certainly guarantee successful implementation of the mHealth apps:

  • User-Centered Design: The apps must be designed in such a manner that it must keep the user in mind, and hence, be easy to use and accessible, and having a positive user experience.
  • Data Security and Privacy: The safety of patient data and compliances concerning HIPAA are paramount in a mobile health environment.
  • Integrations with Existing Healthcare Systems: Seamless integration with electronic health records and other healthcare systems is vital to facilitate efficient data sharing and care coordination.

The future of healthcare will be shaped by the extent to which technology can empower patients to lead healthier lives. mHealth applications do have the strong tooling that meets the challenge of patient adherence, making the management of health and wellness more proactive and participatory. We will innovate, putting the patient at the center, to fully realize the potential that mHealth applications have to transform healthcare delivery toward a more personal and value-driven healthcare experience for all.