“The Adrenal APP helps the patient ensure that crucial medical information is available at any time of the day or night, wherever the patient and his or her smartphone are together. 

The app helps to collect and access this crucial information.The app on a smartphone makes it possible to explain instantly that the patient has an adrenal disorder and that he is dependent on hydrocortisone. 

This means: “inject first, talk later”, and that is an essential instruction for the ambulance crew and for the staff in the emergency department. Importantly, they can verify this in the (Dutch) ambulance crew’s Protocol for Adrenal Insufficiency.”

“AfIB 2GetherTM a mobile app developed by Pfizer, may help improve shared decision making discussions between patients with AFib, their caregivers, and their provider, on the risk of stroke due to AFib.

The app includes:

• a stroke risk questionnaire that patients can send to your provider, outlining their individual risk factors for stroke
• education on AFib with videos, facts and links to trusted advocacy sites

“The ‘AliveECG’ works in conjunction with the free AliveECG app and is designed for medical professionals, patients and health-conscious individuals to record, display, store and transfer single-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) readings. These recordings could be saved on the mobile device or shared with others (such as your doctor) via email. AliveCor’s Heart Monitor has been used in several clinical trials, and demonstrated accuracy and efficiency to produce a single-channel rate-and-rhythm assessment. Arrhythmia Alliance members have the chance to purchase the app with an exclusive discount of £5, using voucher code ‘hrc2013a’ when bought from Amazon. A percentage of the sale will also be given to Arrhythmia Alliance.” 

“The free Alzheimer’s Association^® Alzheimer's Disease Pocketcard app puts reliable information and assessment tools at your fingertips.

Find:

• Clinical information on the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Interactive assessment tools
• Education packets that can be sent directly to patients and caregivers”

“Apps4carers app is a new mobile app dedicated to carers which includes a repository of selected apps and websites in partner countries, information and tutorials on their use
Apps for carers is your handy tool, easy to use, to navigate the selected resources from the following categories:

• Contacts
• Health
• Technology
• Well-being”

Video quotes from young people using the app:

“The app was co-designed by young people like us with arthritis to track how they are feeling over time.”

“And it helps make your hospital appointments a lot easier.”

“When I go to the doctor it comes in very handy because I can just show them the app. See how many OK days, days with pain, how many bad days, energy levels and mental health as well.”

“The app’s very easy to navigate. You rate the categories by using smiley faces rather than type or choosing a longer answer.”

“If I have any questions I can go to the info and tips section.”

“It’s a question and answer platform designed to connect you directly with communities full of first hand knowledge of Down Syndrome. The app is full of personal stories and experiences from the community, as well as evidence-based resources about Down Syndrome. You can submit your own questions or answers across topics like health, community, education and employment. Ask about Down Syndrome is helping to break down the myths about Down Syndrome. By engaging with the app, you can get the real story about what it’s like to have Down Syndrome. This can help you support the inclusion and participation of people with Down Syndrome in the community.”

“Questions, Answers and Stories: 

The app features people with Down syndrome answering important questions and sharing stories about what supports inclusion, what the barriers are and how these can be addressed. 

Community Inclusion resources: 

The latest resources from Down Syndrome Australia’s Community Inclusion Toolkit are available through the app. This means these resources are now available to view, share, download or print from a handheld device. 

Share your own question, answer or story: 

“Asthma Buddy has helped hundreds of Australians manage their asthma for many years. We hope this new useful tool can help you take control of your asthma and improve the quality of life for you and your family.”

As a leading organisation for asthma care, the National Asthma Council Australia promotes best-practice care to people with asthma and their families.

…“Asthma Buddy is a digital Asthma Action Plan that lives in your pocket,” said Siobhan Brophy, Chief Executive Officer, National Asthma Council Australia. 

“You can refer to it to know what daily asthma medication to take. It will also help you recognise if your asthma is getting worse and give you advice on what you should do in response.

…We designed Asthma Buddy with end users in mind,” We know mums always have a million things on the go, so we want to help them stay on top of their children’s asthma management.”

The launch of the Asthma Buddy mobile website is funded by GSK Australia. The National Asthma Council retained editorial control.

“This free app provides simple, easy-to-learn skills to help a baby or child in a first aid emergency.

It is packed with useful tips, animations, and video clips. You can test your knowledge using the app’s built-in first aid quizzes. There is also a handy device to record your child's medication needs and any allergies.

The information you need is all hosted on the app itself, meaning no internet connection is needed, making it fast and easy to access.” 

“I have found the BECCA app to be inspiring and full of helpful advice, packed with lots of useful information and suggestions. 

A must-have for anyone to help them move forward after breast cancer treatment.”

“BookSmart for home allows parents and caregivers to access a library from their mobile phones so they can support their children’s learning after the school day or when physical schools are not in session. BookSmart starts with a free base collection – 75+ great local and international books suitable for young readers and their parents…
…These books support the learning and socio-emotional development of children ages 3 to 12 years. The collection includes books in Arabic, English, Hindi, and Spanish. Books can be read online or offline to save on data costs.”

“In the era of personalised medicines and oral chemotherapy taken at home, Bowel Cancer Australia is getting Aussies ready for the future of patient care with a new bowel cancer app…. 

The comprehensive bowel cancer app…provides easy access to accurate information about bowel cancer, its prevention, diagnosis and management. 

"Our bowel cancer app is responding to the changing needs of bowel cancer patients and their families or carers…For example, as more oral chemotherapies become available enabling people to receive treatment at home, we expect to see a shift away from written patient treatment diaries to online diaries that can then be emailed to the patient's specialist."

"We've also designed the app to be easily personalised.  It has the capability to store screening reminders, treatment and mood diary entries and even record notes from medical appointments."

UPDATE: Bowel Cancer App 2.0

“The updated Bowel Cancer App 2.0 retains the comprehensive bowel cancer content frequently accessed in the first version of the app including the ‘Need to Know’, ‘How to Test’ ‘Living With’ and ‘Need to Ask’ sections, but also offers users additional benefits previously unavailable.

A new ‘Motivate Me’ feature enables people to monitor their diet and lifestyle on a daily basis as one way to help reduce their bowel cancer risk. Users can also connect one-to-one through the App as part of Bowel Cancer Australia’s Peer-to-Peer support and buddy network, Australia’s only national bowel cancer support group for patients and loved ones. 

Other valuable features include screening tips and tools, a list of questions to ask throughout the patient journey, a customisable treatment and mood diary, recipes and a meal planner.

Consistently featuring in the top 100 medical apps in both the App Store and Android Store, the Bowel Cancer Australia App provides users with answers to questions about bowel cancer which many people feel uncomfortable asking and continues to make it easier for people to access relevant bowel cancer information.”

“For some kids, managing everyday feelings can be a big challenge.  Apps like ‘Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame’ can model more productive ways to deal with emotions.
The app shows kids a familiar face from Sesame St having trouble with something such as tying their shoes or going to bed. The app helps kids realise that everyone has moments like this in their lives.
And it also shows them how to use calming exercises like breathing deeply along with a monster friend. That can help kids manage their frustration.”

“The Calm Harm app powered by Stem4 helps young people resist or manage the urge to self-harm. Developed by Dr Nihara Krause, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, together with ideas from young people, Calm Harm uses strategies from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to help users learn to identify and manage their ‘emotional mind’, teaching impulse control, emotional regulation and tracking underlying triggers to harmful urges…

…We worked co-collaboratively with young people to develop Calm Harm. The co-collaborative workshops with young people explored desired outputs, user journeys, visual concepts, security/privacy, user experience, and tone of voice…

…Calm Harm is recommended for the ages of 13 years and above. If a younger child would like to use it, it is recommended that this is done under the guidance of a responsible adult.

 …Calm Harm educates using strategies from evidence-based Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT has been shown to be an effective treatment for some groups of patients who self-harm…

…Please note that Calm Harm is not a substitute for assessment and intervention by a mental health professional. It is recommended a GP should be consulted in the first instance.”

“Patients diagnosed with cancer are confronted with vast quantities of life-changing information at a time of great stress. They are also under pressure to communicate details of their condition and treatment to many family and friends.

This can be a harrowing experience and the frustration of not recalling or clearly understanding a clinician’s words during a consultation can add to patient stress and anxiety. Similarly, trying to explain the diagnosis, treatment or likely outcomes to family is difficult.

By providing a structured mechanism with which to communicate questions and to record answers, the CANrecall App uses contemporary technology to assist patients at this time of great need. It will also be particularly beneficial to semi-literate or foreign language patients as it will allow them to seek medical attention and then receive later assistance from family or social workers to better understand their diagnosis and any proposed treatment therapies. 

Patients today meet with their clinicians in a manner that is virtually unchanged in the past 100 years. This despite all the growth in technology and our understanding of patients’ psychological needs. Using both technology and professionally developed Question Prompt Lists the app will significantly improve the doctor/patient interaction and the resultant patient experience.”

“Living with Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) and Carcinoid Syndrome is not easy but two new features on the Carcinoid NETs Health Storylines App aim to make it a little easier…

… Zebra Tales presents real stories about real life experiences by people who may be just like you…You can read their stories online…or in the app

…NET Nutrition is a new nutrition tool made specifically for those living with NETs and/or Carcinoid Syndrome. Determining which nutrients are right for you while living with NETs can sometimes be challenging…

…Check in regularly for new articles that will help you manage typical diet-related symptoms and offer insights on conversations to have with your healthcare team.”

…CareZone is a robust tool that will help caregivers organize everything from appointments and tasks to meds, contacts, and miscellaneous notes – all in one place. Customizable sharing of contents is a great advantage, simplifying communication and coordination between family members.

…Support seems to be readily available; I sent a question via email and received an immediate, very courteous and complete response.”

The app has been created by a group of bereaved young people working directly with Child Bereavement UK.

It has been developed for 11-25 year olds who have been bereaved of someone important to them. It can also be used by friends, teachers, parents and professionals who would like to know how to support bereaved young people.

The app has information about:

• bereavement
• grief
• feelings
• how others can help.

The app aims to help bereaved young people feel less alone and to inspire others on how to support them.

“Benefits are: It contains information on 5 common feeding pitfalls, in a WHAT, WHY, WHAT TO DO format. It explains the WHY a behaviour is occurring, which parents have said is really good and fills a gap in their knowledge. Many feeding resources currently do not explain the psychology and physiology around children's feeding behaviour. It explains not only WHAT to do, but with tangible, interactive tools to help. It allows parents to track their child's eating behaviour, but also their own well-being. This can be very useful for anxious parents who can become entrenched in feeding problems and not objectively see improvements. If parents learn healthier, more adaptive ways to feed their children, then the health of children will be improved. This is both in terms of what is eaten (increasing variety and liking fruit & veg) but also HOW it is eaten (less coercion so children are allowed to learn to regulate their own intake, something that is important in the battle against obesity). It represents a useful preventative resource, that can be used before weaning to educate parents on children's developmentally predictable responses to food, BEFORE problems occur. It's easy to use and an app may be a better medium to reach less engaged families/parents, than having them come and visit their health visitor. It's free to download, so available to all. Drawbacks are: the app does not deal with nutritional information e.g., how much carbs, protein etc a child has eaten / should eat per day.”

“Clear Fear is an app developed for the teenage mental health charity Stem4, by Dr Nihara Krause, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and uses the evidence-based treatment CBT to focus on learning to reduce the physical responses to threat by learning to breathe, relax and be mindful as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions.

You can personalise the app if you so wish and you will be able to track your progress and notice change.

Please note the app is an aid in treatment but does not replace it…

…The fear of threat, or anxiety, is like a strong gust of wind. It drags you in and makes you want to fight it or run away. 

Instead, face your fear with the free Clear Fear app and learn to reduce the physical responses to threat as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions. 

Anxiety is a natural response to fear, threat and apprehension. However, when anxiety is extreme or goes on for a long time, or the response to a threat is disproportionately large and affects a person negatively, it may become an anxiety disorder. 

Anxiety disorders are the most common form of emotional disorder and respond very well to a form of treatment called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT.”

I know the people who have developed it and I trust them, very important with medical data of this nature. This App gets my seal of approval and a big thumbs-up from me. Well done CML Advocates Network.”

“With support from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), this customizable mobile app has been developed for stroke survivors specifically based on their feedback and needs.

The app provides the stroke survivor or their caregiver with the ability to:

• create a detailed listing of all medications and set reminders for when to take them
• add important contact information including who to contact in an emergency and your physicians
• understand common medical terms relevant to stroke
• learn more about modifiable and non-modifiable stroke risk factors
• find helpful information about the physical, emotional, and cognitive conditions of stroke
• improve their rehabilitation through video instruction
• find a support group
• special sections for “Am I having a stroke?” and “Send help message with my location”.

The app was developed through a collaboration with National Stroke Association, The State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, City University of New York (CUNY), and The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health.”

“NHS Wales have launched self-management apps for asthma and COPD. The purpose of the apps is to support the long-term management of patients with asthma and COPD to help patients stay well. The apps provide appropriate supplementary advice, education and support which is updated by experts in asthma and COPD, and they also enable people to keep online action plans…

“The FREE distrACT app gives people who self-harm and may feel suicidal quick, easy and discreet access to information and advice, so they can manage difficult feelings, cope with a crisis and find help and support.

About 1 in 7 young people in the UK say they’ve harmed themselves at some point, and people who self-harm are 35 times more likely to end their own lives.

The distrACT app allows people to access reliable health information about self-harm on-the-go – 24/7, in the privacy of their mobile phone and in one single place.

How is the app useful?

If you self-harm and perhaps feel suicidal, the distrACT app provides you with all the information you need to understand self-harm better, manage it more safely, and know how to get help and support when you need it:

• Manage suicidal thoughts: Reduce your risk of taking your own life when you self-harm and feel suicidal
• Get support: Find help in a crisis – find advice on what to do in an emergency, lists of useful emergency numbers and support sites, and tips on safety planning
• Signposting: The apps guides you to further sources of support that you can trust – all in one place
• Self-care: Find out how to manage thoughts and feelings and discover safer alternatives to self-harm
• Build personal resilience: Develop skills to recover more quickly and increase your well-being

“Dravet Dream. 
The first video game in the history of Dravet syndrome. Together with our friends from CEINPRO, we go a step further in the diffusion of Dravet syndrome. 
Now, any user in the world can download Dravet Dream, an interactive game in which the main character is always accompanied by a butterfly overcoming different challenges related to this disease. 
The game is in English, Spanish and Basque, it is free and you can download it for both Android and iOS devices.”

“Stage IV Endometriosis warrior Melissa Turner developed Endo Empowered to provide women with the tools she used to improve her endo experience. There are dietary and lifestyle suggestions to help naturally manage endo symptoms, as well as a 21-day wellness challenge. (Going to bed before 10:00 PM or eating something green each day are just a few of the to-do’s.)  Another popular feature? Daily self-care reminders, which can be set to any time, in any time zone. “The Endo Empowered platform was inspired by a strong desire to help women around the world by empowering them with tools, support, and hope to manage endometriosis and make life a little easier,” says Turner.”

“Life can get busy. Keeping track of your epilepsy or general well-being may not be easy. National guidelines encourage regular review of your epilepsy with your GP, but this may only be once in a year.

How do you check your risk the rest of the time? 

The award-winning app EpSMon can help you self-monitor in between your visits to doctors.

After answering a short assessment, EpSMon will produce an easy to read summary showing you:• which risks are getting better• which have worsened• and which have stayed the same 

So you can show this summary to your GP on your next visit. It can also help you decide whether to seek help earlier than your next planned visit.EpSMon is designed so that you can be aware of why and when a medical review of your epilepsy is important.”

“Positive Mental Training is available as the iOS/Android app Feeling Good(now approved by NHS Digital App Library)

The app is free to download, and comes pre-loaded with:

• 1st track of Positive Mental training
• shorter taster tracks – Confidence Boost and Body Scan -a relaxation track
• 3-minute mindfulness
• a spoken introduction

A great feature of the app is a progress monitor in the form of a tree which gradually fills out with leaves and flowers as progress is made through the programme.  We really like the growth metaphor. 

You can set up listening reminders as well. The app has 2 mental health questionnaires, so you can assess your health status, this also helps us to assess the helpfulness of the programme (anonymously).”

“After suffering years of unexplained symptoms and multiple hospital visits, Flutter founder Kirsty Curry was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 28. Soon after, she sought on a mission to help other women more quickly navigate the road to diagnosis.  Curry and her husband, both app-designers and developers, created Flutter. The app comes complete with a community to share experiences with as well as a handy symptom tool that can help users better advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office.  “I also wanted an easy way to share a journal with your doctor, so we added an export tool, says Curry, who is also a board member for The Endometriosis Foundation of America. “The journal allows detailed symptomatology tracking that’s specific to endometriosis, which may help with screening and symptom management. And sharing the tracker with your doctor can eventually help with diagnosis.”

“It was through this personal experience that I realised how hard it is to actually coordinate specific and practical help when going through a crisis. 

Text messages, ring-arounds, spreadsheets and late night phone calls are difficult, time consuming and often just too much for someone to manage when they are already in the turmoil of a serious life crisis.

I wanted to help my friend but didn’t have the free time to coordinate all the assistance she needed with all the wonderful people who had offered to help…

…Gather My Crew is an online rostering tool that has been developed specifically to support people in crisis, to enable them to ask for and coordinate the practical help they need.

Using the expertise of people who had ‘been there, done that’, as well as the clinicians who supported them, Gather My Crew exists to make sure people going through a crisis get the right kind of help from all their well-meaning friends, family, neighbours and colleagues – without all of the stress that usually comes with coordinating help when a loved one becomes ill.

It is a way to ask for help – and then turns that help into a calendar that tracks and records who is doing what, and when. It even sends reminders and updates to keep everyone connected throughout the time the assistance is needed.

Gather My Crew is a registered charity, and the online tool is free and easy to use.” 

“GDm-Health has the potential to positively affect patient care, because people with gestational diabetes would be better able to interact with their healthcare team. GDm-Health removes bias in patient reporting of blood glucose levels, helping to improve trust.

It can potentially decrease unnecessary hospital visits and provide the midwife with more information for clinical decisions.
GDm-Health could improve patient health outcomes. It is unlikely that using GDm-Health would significantly effect on family, work or home life any more than usual blood glucose monitoring.

The only possible drawback could be anxiety around personal data handling, but this could be mitigated by assuring users of robust security.

The system is more likely to benefit patients who embrace new technology, particularly those who already use smartphones. For many users, especially those very familiar with smartphones, no special training would be needed.”

Expert contribution from the patient organisation to a medtech assessment paper by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

“Designed for people who need to limit their fluid intake, especially people with hyponatremia, kidney failure, or heart disease.

Features:

• Includes easy-to-use tools to track your daily fluid intake, weight, and blood pressure
• Helps you understand the link between kidney disease, heart disease, and hyponatremia
• Alerts you if your blood pressure or weight reaches a level that requires notifying your healthcare provider
• Allows you to send reports of your fluid intake, weight, or blood pressure to your healthcare provider or caretaker with the push of a button
• Provides helpful medical information about hyponatremia and its risk factors, symptoms, treatments, when to call a doctor, and much more.

Organized by:

• My Profile

• My Health Tools (including the Fluid Tracker, Weight Tracker, Blood Pressure Tracker)
• My Diagnosis
• My Doctor Appointments
• My Medications
• Questions

Cited in list of recommended apps during COVID-19 pandemic. 

Happy not perfect