Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

eHealth is a rapidly growing field in which information and communication technologies are used to support health care. Smartphone apps are readily accessible eHealth tools that may support the self-management of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, knowledge on the availability and quality of apps targeted to this population is limited. Our objective is to identify smartphone apps targeted to patients with SLE and to classify their functions and judge their quality using a reliable and objective scale. We applied a systematic review framework to the search, screening, and assessment of apps. Android and iPhone apps were searched on the Google Play Store and the App Store, respectively in January 2018. We identified 315 apps, including 249 from the Google Play Store and 66 from the App Store. Of these, 32 met inclusion criteria (19 Android, 13 iPhone). Of the 19 Android apps, 16 were free to download and the remaining cost 2.93 - 5.65 CAD. The user star ratings of the apps ranged from 1.5 - 5.0 stars (out of 5.0) and the number of user ratings ranged from 1 - 288. Common user critiques indicated the need for increased functionality in entering and tracking symptoms in apps that provided this feature. Of the 13 iPhone apps, 10 were free to download and the remaining cost 2.79 - 6.99 CAD. No user ratings or comments were available. The focus across all apps were mainly to increase patient well-being. The strategies behind the apps varied, the most common ones included: providing information/education regarding SLE for the user, providing advice/tips/strategies/skills training for SLE management, and providing capabilities for monitoring/tracking of symptoms. These findings have practical implications for helping patients identify potential eHealth tools to support self-management of SLE.