Smartphone apps for the diagnosis and management of vertigo: a
systematic review of the literature and mobile applications
Abstract
Background Vertigo can have a negative impact on the quality of life of
patients. Mobile health apps have the potential to promote autonomy, and
improve symptoms through self-management and vestibular rehabilitation
exercises. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the quality of
apps for vertigo using the published literature and smartphone stores.
Design A systematic review of the literature, utilising Embase, Medline,
Cochrane and clinicaltrials.org, and Apple and Google Play Stores were
used to identify mobile device apps relating to vertigo. Apps were
evaluated for characteristics, content, healthcare involvement and
quality using the Mobile App Rating Score (MARS) system (a standardised
tool for assessing app quality). Results The literature search
identified no eligible articles. The app search identified and evaluated
32 eligible apps. Four main categories of apps were identified: exercise
provision, information provision, symptom monitoring and assessment. Six
apps included healthcare professionals in their development. MARS
scoring ranged between 1.8 and 4.05 (maximum 5), with only 25% of apps
scoring the minimum acceptability score of 3. The highest scoring apps
were those providing rehabilitation exercises and symptom monitoring.
Conclusion There is great potential in the use of mobile apps to help
monitor and manage vertigo. This article demonstrates that despite
numerous readily available vertigo apps, few are of an acceptable
standard. There is scope for apps to improve. We propose involving
health professionals and patients in their development to ensure high
quality evidence-based information and evaluating their efficacy through
future patient-centred trials.