Epilepsy Journal app

Epilepsy Journal app

  • An app for caregivers and people with epilepsy wanting to record details of their seizures.
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Epilepsy Journal app By Oily Tree Applications

Features

  • Seizure log.
  • Trigger recording.
  • Graphs and reports.
  • Reports for sharing.
  • Medication reminders.
  • Ketogenic diet tracking.
  • Ability to track from your Wear OS watch.
Country of origin Canada
Clinical review 

4 star review


Read a clinical review below.

Security and privacy Does the app:
  • Collect medical information? Yes – collects health info (optional)
  • Require a login? Recommended
  • Have password protection? Yes
  • Have a privacy policy? Yes. Health information is collected about epilepsy history.
  • 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 Basic version is free. There are paid upgrades available via in-app purchases.
Advertisements Yes – app contains ads. Can pay to have ads removed.
How to get the app

This app enables users to keep track of their seizures (such as duration, seizure type, rescue medication, triggers, activity, location) and record their medications (name, strength, dose, frequency). Users can view trends in their seizure frequency and generate reports of their seizure history. There is a ketogenic diet tracker section which can be used if applicable. The app allows users to share their health information with friends, family or health professionals.

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

PROS CONS 

Easily log seizures and related information. Able to note whether rescue medication was used, seizure type, possible triggers, activity and location (all customisable).

Medication reminders, and compare seizure data with current and past medications used.

Good data visualisation.

Track ketone levels if undertaking a ketogenic diet and compare levels with seizures.

Generate a pdf report of the data to share with your doctor.

There seems to have been input from doctors.

Sync between devices (great for caregivers).

Available in 18 languages.

Not available on iTunes store for Apple devices.

✘ Unable to record a video of the seizure through the app using the version reviewed.

✘ Limited information about epilepsy (there are some videos but seem to be more targeted towards medical personnel).

✘ Little information on medications used to treat epilepsy.

✘ Could not see a place to track drug levels in the blood.

Clinical review

4 star review



Reviewer
: Lena Estrin, Community Pharmacist
Date of review: April 2023
Comments: This is a useful app for people who have recurrent seizures or epilepsy, and their carers. The app allows seizures to be tracked along with possible triggers to find patterns and trends. This information can then be shared with others involved in the persons care including health professionals.
The medication section helps people to record what medication they are taking. Reminders to take medication can be set and there is the ability to add a photo of the medication to the app which could be beneficial for people who have multiple people involved in administering their antiseizure meds. The medication feature does rely on medication information being entered correctly by the app user – there is no list of commonly used medication to choose from so it may not always be accurate. Those following a ketogenic diet may find the keto tracking function useful.
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: Yes


Clinical review

5 star review



Reviewer
: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: December 2017
Version: 1.3.6
Platform: Android
Comments: This app is useful for people who suffer from seizure disorders and their caregivers. Users can track seizure trends, monitor and compare treatment response, identify potential triggers, receive medication reminders and more effectively share data with their doctor. This is a very high quality journal application that allows users to easily log seizures and related information. Users can note whether rescue medication was used, seizure type, possible triggers, activity and location (all customisable). The app has good data visualisation. For people undertaking a ketogenic diet, they can track ketone levels and compare levels with seizures. This app appears to have had input from doctors during its development. 
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: No concerns    


Clinical review

4 star review



Reviewer
: Kinu McCarthy, Epilepsy Speciality Clinical Nurse
Date of review: March 2018
Comments: This app is useful for patients with epilepsy, their support persons, and clinician. The app makes it easy for patients to record their seizure frequency and to produce reports, and for clinicians to see seizure trends. However, from a usability perspective, it is difficult to press the seizure button when you are having seizure with altered awareness, so the recorded time and duration of the seizure might not be accurate. Also an editing option for alarm setting for medication reminder would be helpful. 
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: No concerns

The following are articles about apps for epilepsy

  1. Pandher PS, Bhullar KK. Smartphone applications for seizure management(external link). Health Informatics J. 2016 Jun;22(2):209-20.

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.