University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed HART, a health app review tool, to match users (e.g., patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)) with suitable smartphone-based health applications (apps). HART is a decision-making tool designed to assess the suitability of any app for an individual user based on their needs and skill using unique algorithms. Using four domains including usefulness, complexity, accessibility and external factors, HART will assist clinicians, patients, and caregivers to identify apps that are most suitable for individual users.
Description
By some estimates there are hundreds of thousands of health apps available for use on smartphones, all claiming to provide benefit in areas from sleep to nutrition, and medication management to cognitive stimulation. Those living with ADRD are unique in what they need from an app and in their ability to use technology due to cognitive impairments. With the number of patients with ADRD and health apps increasing, there is a growing need to provide tools to assist clinicians, caregivers, and patients, to identify which apps may be best for them. HART has been developed and optimized following consultation with the ADRD community to meet this need, helping clinicians, patients, and caregivers identify apps that best match someone’s personal circumstances.
Applications
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Other dementias
• Caregiver support
Advantages
People living with ADRD face several health challenges in day-to-day living including maintaining appropriate nutrition, remembering to take medication, and sleep disturbances. Caregivers of those with ADRD commonly report physical and mental health challenges. For both patients and caregivers, apps may be useful to promote healthy aging, wellbeing, and independence, but are currently underused due to an inability to identify the most useful and clinically relevant app. However, many apps available to consumers are without scientific evidence, leaving consumers confused as to which app may be best suited to them. Current app assessments only test the app performance or its general usability. HART is unique in that it comprises a user assessment and app assessment with an algorithm developed to match a user’s needs to apps which best suit their needs and abilities. HART could also act as a guide for app developers to tailor apps for those living with ADRD and their caregivers.
Invention Readiness
HART was developed as a user and app assessment to be completed by clinicians or caregivers. HART was tested by clinicians and carers in the ADRD community across four countries with feedback used to refine the tool. A final simplified user and app assessment has been developed and can be completed in around 15 minutes.
IP Status
Copyright
