Arthritis power app

An app aimed at people with arthritis to track their symptoms, medication, and to see how their symptoms are changing over time.

Arthritis Power

By Global Healthy Living Foundation

 Arthritis power app icon

 Features

  • Symptom tracking

  • Medication and treatment tracking

Clinical review

Two out of five stars

User reviews

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Available from

 Google play      iTunes

Cost

 Free

What does the app do?

This app enables the user to track their symptoms such as pain, fatigue (tiredness), and sleep disturbance. It also allows them to record their treatments, and medication. By recording their symptoms regularly, the app allows the user to gauge how their symptoms are changing over time, such as in response to new medication.

The Arthritis Power app is a registry, which means that the health data is collected is used for research.        

For the complete app description, go to either Google Play (android) iTunes (apple) and for a detailed review, see Reviews.

Arthritis power screenshots

PROS

CONS

✔  Uses validated questionnaires to collect data about symptoms of arthritis.

✔  Can modify which questionnaires are used to focus on symptoms of most concern.

✔  Data is included in patient-led database for research on arthritis. This data cannot be linked to the person who provided it.

✘  Look of the app is clunky and forms are slow to load.

✘  Hard to navigate, have to look hard to find all the functions.

✘  Long informed consent process when first sign up.

✘  No linking with other health concerns, life events or medication changes so tracks symptoms but doesn't suggest ways to manage symptoms.

✘  Research database is held in the USA, so unlikely for research to be undertaken in New Zealand.

✘  Medication tracking list has medications not available in NZ.

✘  Very detailed information based on United States scoring system. Very few healthcare professionals would be able to help a user understand them all and know what to do.

Privacy and security

App requires a login for use. Read more about things you can do to improve your safety and security when using apps.

Review details

Date of review: July 2016
Platform reviewed: Android
Version: 1.2.0 

References

The following references relate to articles about apps for arthritis.

  1. Grainger R, Townsley H, White B, et al. Apps for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis to Monitor Their Disease Activity: A Review of Apps for Best Practice and Quality. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2017 Feb 21;5(2):e7.  
  2. Majeed-Ariss R, Baildam E, Campbell M, et al. Apps and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Adolescents' Use of Mobile Phone and Tablet Apps That Support Personal Management of Their Chronic or Long-Term Physical Conditions. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Dec 23;17(12):e287.
  3. Nishiguchi S, Ito H, Yamada M, Yoshitomi H, et al. Self-assessment tool of disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis by using a smartphone application. Telemed J E Health. 2014 Mar;20(3):235-40.