The Impact of Using Mobile Applications on Health Outcomes in Patient Self-Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy

Abstract Background Between one and two percent of the population of the developed countries are currently treated with oral anticoagulation therapy. The transition of all or part of the responsibility for therapy management to the patient is an appropriate strategy to respond increasing demand for oral anticoagulation therapy. The main objective of this original study was to investigate the impact of using mobile applications on health outcomes in patient self-management of oral anticoagulation therapy. Methods The papers reviewed in this study had two key characteristics: firstly, they were written in English, and secondly, they used mobile application in oral anticoagulation therapy. An Android mobile application called XrinA was developed to provide warfarin patient self-management. The study was conducted following a Before-After study design. In the Before and After periods, patients were treated as usual and by using the developed application, respectively. Results In the Before period, the mean percentage of International Normalized Ratios (INRs) within the therapeutic range and Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) of patients was 31.63% and 34.4%, respectively. In the After period, the mean percentage of INRs within the therapeutic range and TTR of patients was 41.41% and 49.97%, respectively. In the After period, the mean INRs within the therapeutic range and the mean TTR increased by 9.78% and 15.57%, respectively. Conclusions Overall, the use of mHealth applications improved outcomes in patient self-management of oral anticoagulation therapy in terms of the percentage of INRs within the therapeutic range and TTR.