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Evaluation of the Quality of Mobile Health Applications for Medication Adherence in Iran
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M Samadbeik1   , A Garavand2 , A Abtin3 , C Salehnasab4 |
1- Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2- Department of Health Information Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
3- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
4- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran. , cirruse.salehnasab@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (1262 Views) |
Background & aim: Mobile health(mHealth) applications have emerged as pivotal tools for enhancing medication adherence, leveraging high accessibility and the widespread penetration of smartphones. The clinical effectiveness of these tools is directly influenced by their quality in terms of design, functionality, data security, and user experience. Despite the growing adoption of mHealth in Iran, systematic evaluations of these applications remain scarce. This study aimed to identify and assess the quality of medication adherence applications available in the Iranian market.
Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and applied study conducted in 2022. Applications were identified through the Cafe Bazaar platform using the keywords "drug," "pharmacy," and "medication reminder." Following a screening process, eight eligible applications were selected for detailed evaluation. Data were collected using a researcher-developed functional checklist and the standardized Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Assessment was performed by four independent raters (two health information technology specialists, one clinical pharmacist, and one epidemiologist). Inter-rater reliability was analyzed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient.
Results: From an initial pool of 1,336 applications, eight met the inclusion criteria. While more than half of the evaluated apps were up-to-date and all featured basic data security, multi-user support, and offline reminders, significant gaps were identified. Critical features—including robust privacy protection policies, adherence scoring systems, and comprehensive statistical adherence reports—were absent across all evaluated applications. Overall, the quality of the applications was heterogeneous, with only a limited few possessing the majority of expected functional and operational capabilities.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that while mHealth applications for medication adherence in Iran provide basic functionalities, they fall significantly short of international standards and lack critical features. The absence of privacy safeguards and longitudinal adherence feedback are major deficiencies. Development of these tools requires a more rigorous adherence to evidence-based design and security protocols to ensure both user trust and clinical utility.
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| Keywords: Evaluation, Quality, Medication Adherence, Mobile Applications, Digital Health |
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Full-Text [PDF 773 kb]
(57 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/4 | Accepted: 2025/09/29 | Published: 2026/02/3
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