As there are 4.7 million people in the UK with diabetes, management of this condition now makes up 10% of the NHS budget.¹ Health apps give patients tools to self-manage, reducing pressure on the NHS.

But how do you find the right ones? ORCHA has reviewed 229 diabetes apps, and 82% score below our quality threshold, indicating a market of low quality apps.

Today, Dr Tom Micklewright discusses his views on three apps for managing diabetes that have scored well in ORCHA’s Review.

In these videos, Dr Tom Micklewright looks at three top-scoring diabetes apps, giving his opinion on their features, benefits, and areas for improvement.

Intellin app demonstration: 

Dr Micklewright demonstrates the Intellin app, shares his views, and explores how the app simplifies the management of diabetes and identifies the risk of developing complications. Intellin gives personalised predictions on users’ highest risk areas and provides tips on how to prevent these complications.

Click below to watch the video:

Click here to view ORCHA’s review of Intellin on our App Library.

Diabetes Forum app demonstration: 

Dr Micklewright next looks at the way in which the Diabetes Forum app provides a moderated peer-to-peer support network to people with diabetes (considered vulnerable under COVID-19). This includes elderly people, friends and caregivers. The app can be distributed through a mobile and web app:

Click here to access ORCHA’s review of Diabetes Forum on our App Library.

Liva UK app demonstration:

For his insight into another top-scoring diabetes app, Dr Micklewright demonstrates how Liva UK provides personalised health coaching programmes to patients at risk of developing, or currently living with, chronic diseases such as Pre and Type 2 Diabetes:

Click here to read ORCHA’s review of Liva UK on our App Library.

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Sources

1) Diabetes UK: Us, diabetes and a lot of facts and stats

A new group has been formed to drive forward the much needed digital health readiness agenda. This will be led by CECOPS CIC*, and supported by many experts in the digital health space.

The formation of this group follows a webinar run by CECOPS ‘DIGITAL HEALTH READINESS, DURING & POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC’**.

There was an overwhelming sense in the discussion that in order for the digital health marketplace to be sustainable and effective, the issue of organisational readiness should be addressed as a matter of priority.

The task group will be jointly chaired by Professor Mike Bewick (a former deputy medical director at NHS England) and Shane Tickell (Vice Chair, Health and Social Care, TechUK, and CEO Temple Black). The group have agreed that the issue of digital health readiness is beyond further discussion and want to be seen as a ‘Do Tank’.

The overall aims of the group are to establish what digital health readiness actually looks like, share, scale and accelerate it, so that organisations are ready for adopting new innovations and technologies at pace, to ensure improved outcomes and benefits can be fully realised. The group will collaborate with other strategic partners in the space.

“Over recent years there has been some excellent work initiated by organisations like NHS England/Improvement – including the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur programme, NHSX, the Academic Health Science Networks and Digital Health London, looking at innovations. To capitalise on this work we feel readiness is an area where focus needs to be, especially with the momentum COVID-19 has given with regards to looking at digital health; we don’t want to miss this opportunity.” – Professor Bewick

Brian Donnelly, CEO, CECOPS, will lead on the day to day operations of the group and oversee projects, along with a support team. The task group advisory panel includes:

Prof. Mike Bewick (Joint Chair)

Shane Tickell (Joint Chair)

Dr Taz Aldawoud, CCIO, NHS Bradford District and Craven CCG; CEO, Doc Abode (Vice Chair)

Dr. Ruth Ngozi Agbakoba, Academic & Digital Health Consultant (Project Lead & Advisor)

Dr Paul Rice, Regional Director of Digital Transformation, NHS England & NHS Improvement (External Advisor)

Rachel Murphy, CEO, Difrent Group (External Advisor)

Eamus Halpin, Corporate Strategist, Horizon Strategic Partners (External Advisor)

Liz Ashall-Payne, CEO, ORCHA (External Advisor)

Dr Tamsin Holland Brown, Paediatrician, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust (External Advisor)

Dr. Sam Shah, Digital Health Tech Advisor (External Advisor)

Neelam Patel, CEO, MedCity (External Advisor)

Helen Hughes, CEO, Patient Safety Learning (External Advisor)

Charlotte Lewis, Commercial Health Lawyer, Mills & Reeve (External Advisor)

Dr. Antonio E. Weiss, Author & Director 2020 Delivery (External Advisor)

Hassan Chaudhury, Digital Health Lead at Healthcare UK (External Advisor)

Andy Wilkins, Co-Founder at Vision4Health & CEO of BE Advisory

Readiness assessments will look mainly at the planning and commissioning of services, including system readiness. It will help bring organisations to the procurement and commissioning phase. Assessments can also cover digital health providers, so that they are also ready to bring their solution to the market.

“This is an excellent opportunity to ensure the system is ready for some of the great innovations out there. This initiative could not have come at a better time. I am delighted to be part of this.” – Dr Taz Aldawoud (Vice Chair)

Readiness will be assessed against the CECOPS International Code of Practice for Planning, Commissioning and Providing Technology Enabled Care Services: A Quality Framework for Procurement and Commissioning of Services, and using the iCOPS® self-assessment and continuous improvement software tool.

Readiness assessments can be undertaken at both micro and macro levels e.g. hospitals, Integrated Care Systems. If you would like to find more about this new task group and how it can support you, please get in touch: T: 01494 863398 | M: 07511667330 | brian@cecops.org.uk

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*CECOPS CIC is the independent standards and accreditation body in the UK for all assistive technology services, including digital health. CECOPS has developed outcome-based standards and currently works with approximately 200 NHS and local authority providers.

** A recording from the webinar can be accessed using the following link and by using the password below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/v8VqJo3a_39JZdaQ13nDfbEdPKvZaaa813NNqPdezkbPFL5cHeZH0mVPqcmgVNVj?startTime=1591792456000

PASSWORD: 7g!n3?.I

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) has launched a technology for lung health hub on their website. This hub aims to empower more people with lung conditions to use technology to help manage their condition better at home.

The launch of the hub ties into the charity’s annual awareness week, Love Your Lungs Week, (22-28 June). The theme of the week this year is staying connected through digital, and the leading respiratory charity hopes people with lung conditions can find technology that works for them and their individual need.

The BLF started work on the hub before the COVID-19 pandemic but have seen now, more than ever, digital health is vital. As thousands of people with lung conditions have been shielding and unable to leave the house, digital health is a vital tool to help people better manage their condition through remote information and advice.

One of the main features of the BLF technology hub is an app search for people to find the right health app for their individual need. The BLF worked with ORCHA on this function, who offer independent reviews of every app using their own scoring system. There’s a range of apps to help people manage their conditions in a variety of ways; through keeping a diary of symptoms, helping to improve inhaler technique, staying fit through exercise videos and helping people learn more about their conditions.

The hub also offers a technology guide, explaining key tech terms, information on how tech can keep people connected and stories from people with lung conditions on how tech has helped them.

Ian Bond, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said “The BLF technology hub is a major step in helping people understand their own unique condition and help them manage it in partnership with their health care professional. It provides access to easy to use apps suitable to a wide range of users and people do not need to be a ‘techie’ to get real benefit. Do not let the word ‘technology’ baffle anyone, ‘apps’ are simply an easier way for people to record information about themselves and their condition. That information will lead to better understanding of the person and their disease and that has to be a good thing. The information can then be shared by the person with their health care professional to help build that essential partnership between doctor and patient.”

Michael Laffan, head of digital and marketing at the British Lung Foundation, said: “We’re proud to launch our technology hub at a time when digital health is more critical than ever. We worked very closely with people living with lung conditions to build a product that works for them. We want to empower people and help build their confidence to better manage their condition from home. We also know that many people with lung conditions are feeling isolated, so we hope to bring people together via online communities. We’ll continue to build the hub and support people during lockdown and beyond.”

Liz Ashall Payne, CEO, ORCHA, said: “A lack of advice means very few people with breathing conditions today use apps. For example, only 1% of people with asthma use an app to better manage their condition. With 1,500 asthma apps to choose from and 60% falling below quality thresholds, it is hard to spot the good from the bad and pick one that works for you. We are delighted that the British Lung Foundation is leading the way and helping people with lung conditions find the best apps.” 

Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead for the British Lung Foundation, said: “Technology is a big part of many of our lifestyles, it was inevitable that technology would become part of the relationship between the NHS and it’s patients.

“Technology has allowed us to continue to support patients from the safety of their own homes during the COVID-19 crisis. As restrictions begin to lift, technology can continue to be used to allow quicker and easier interactions with healthcare professionals and be less disruptive on our lifestyles.

“Clinicians and their patients can all benefit in some way from greater use of technology – the hub gives reassurance to us all about which apps may be best suited to our patients with respiratory conditions.”

The BLF plan to continue to expand the HUB, adding in information on the best apps to use if you have, or have had, COVID. And encouraging more people to use online tools to exercise and stay active whilst in lockdown.

For more information or for interview requests, please contact the press team on 020 7786 4949 or email press@blf.org.uk.

Visit the Technology for lung health hub: https://www.blf.org.uk/technology-for-lung-health

The British Lung Foundation:

The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity fighting to help the 1 in 5 people in the UK affected by lung disease. The charity provides support and information to improve the everyday lives of people with lung disease. We are also campaigning for better diagnosis, treatment and prevention for now and the future. For further information, please visit www.blf.org.uk

Physical and mental wellbeing are major concerns for the public during COVID-19 lockdown, and it is now predicted that self-care will become part of the everyday routine. Lockdown has worsened existing issues with food and mental health, but has also rapidly boosted peoples acceptance for digital healthcare.  This is expected to increase the demand on dietetic services, and with social distancing, new remote ways of providing care are essential.

To help its 10,000 members, the British Dietetic Association is taking the next step in its digital strategy to tackle this challenge. The BDA, Professional body and Trade Union for UK Dietitians, is working with the Organisation for the Review of Health and Care Apps (ORCHA), to produce a library of evaluated health apps.

The Association is also offering its members the opportunity to have apps evaluated by ORCHA.  Should they, or their client, use an app that is not featured in the library, BDA will work with ORCHA to ensure that those apps undergo a rigorous review.  The apps will be tested against 260 criteria, covering clinical effectiveness, data security and usability. This independent assessment will ensure dietetic app choices are fully informed.

Helping identify trustworthy resources

Health apps offer easy, engaging and accessible ways to help clients better track symptoms or self-manage, at home. There are specialised apps across a range of conditions, such as diabetes, IBS, eating disorders and obesity.

With thousands of apps available, it can be hard to find the right one. Type ‘diet’ into Google play store and you’ll get over 1.6 million results, and not all of them are safe, secure or easy to use. The vast majority should be used with caution or avoided completely as they can cause harm.  For example:

• 2/3 of mental health apps fall below quality thresholds.
• Only 28% of weight loss apps meet standards.

The library contains a comprehensive list of several thousand health-related apps – all of which can be searched by condition, intended use, and patient type. Also, all apps in the library have been objectively reviewed and rated, so members can make the best recommendations for their patients. The system provides a full report about the levels of clinical assurance, data privacy and user experience for each app listed.

Najia Qureshi, BDA’s Director of Education, Practice and Policy said: “Apps have the power to transform dietetic services, increasing engagement levels with patients and  helping them to better stick to their personalised plan. Our library will help members harness this opportunity safely, by including only tested apps in their practice. Using this tool, we can unlock the power of Digital Health.”