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Arthritis Power app

An app for people with arthritis so you can track your symptoms and medicines, and see how your symptoms change over time.
It also provides information about research and resources to help you live better with arthritis.

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Arthritis Power app	By Global Healthy Living Foundation
	Features Symptom tracking. Medication and treatment tracking. Education. App community. Opportunity to participate in research.
Country of origin	US
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? Yes Require a login? Yes Have password protection? Yes Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PNG, 200 KB] Health Navigator Charitable Trust, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

Arthritis Power app enables you to track symptoms eg, pain, fatigue (tiredness) and sleep disturbance. It also includes options to track general health and emotions, and enables you to record your treatments and medicines. By recording your symptoms regularly, you can gauge how they are changing over time, eg, in response to new medicines. There is also a support community with stories from other people with arthritis, and opportunities to share your own experience.

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

For the complete app description, go to either Google Play(external link) or App store(external link) and, for a detailed review, see reviews below.

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 a patient-led database for research on arthritis. This data cannot be linked to the person who provided it. ✔ Ability to create electronic reports to be shared with doctors and family members. ✔ Ability to track other health concerns and conditions associated with arthritis symptoms, eg, depression, sexual function or social activities.	✘ Hard to navigate – you have to look hard to find all the functions. ✘ Long informed consent process when you first sign up. ✘ No linking with other health concerns, life events or medication changes, so although it tracks symptoms it doesn't suggest ways to manage them. ✘ Research database is held in the US, so unlikely for research to be undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand. ✘ Medication tracking list has medicines not available in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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 a patient-led database for research on arthritis. This data cannot be linked to the person who provided it.

✔ Ability to create electronic reports to be shared with doctors and family members.

✔ Ability to track other health concerns and conditions associated with arthritis symptoms, eg, depression, sexual function or social activities.

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

✘ Long informed consent process when you first sign up.

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

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

✘ Medication tracking list has medicines not available in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Te Whatu Ora, Waitemata
Date of review: October 2023
Platform: Apple
Version: 3.7.1
Comments: This app will be useful for people who would like to manage their progress with arthritis, their medicines and their general wellbeing.
It may appeal to people who are interested in research, and has a database of resources and journal articles.
Since it is a US-based app, it may not be completely relevant to people in New Zealand.
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: Yes

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Auckland
Date of review: July 2021
Comments: I was able to download the app successfully onto my cellphone from the Healthify site, however the app did not allow me to register for the program. Instead, I had to use my computer to register.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Rebecca Grainger, Rheumatologist, University of Otago and Hutt Valley DHB
Date of review: July 2016
Platform: Google Play
Version: 1.2.0
Comments: This app is most useful for a person with inflammatory arthritis interested in collecting detailed information about their symptoms, medication and contributing to research about arthritis. Patients may experience the benefit of detailed tracking of symptoms and medications. "Feel good factor" of contributing to research.
Safety concerns: No safety concerns about the use of this app but may be time consuming to enter large amount of data.
New Zealand relevance: Research database is held in the US, so unlikely for research to be undertaken in New Zealand. Medication tracking list has medications not available in NZ.

Arthritis apps
Arthritis support
Consumer guide – how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide – how to choose a health app
NZ Health App Library

References

The following references relate to articles about apps for arthritis.

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(external link)(external link) JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(2):e7.
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(external link)(external link). J Med Internet Res. 2015;17(12):e287.
Nishiguchi S, Ito H, Yamada M, Yoshitomi H, et al. Self-assessment tool of disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis by using a smartphone application(external link)(external link). Telemed J E Health. 2014;20(3):235-40.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Arthritis Power app