Informatics Director Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, HJF Rockville, Maryland
Abstract Text: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a sudden acquired brain injury that can lead to physical and psychological impairments. The majority of TBIs are mild, and at most patients recover, however, an estimated 15 – 25% develop chronic symptoms. Accessibility to smart phones has increased exponentially, and in parallel, a growing area of digital therapeutics (mobile apps) for many types of impairments including TBI. Digital therapeutics offer several key benefits, chiefly accessibility to those with smart technology, low cost, inclusivity, and have minimal negative side effects. There is an abundance of mobile apps that are available, but not all have been formally reviewed by regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consumers are required to select useful apps, often without sophisticated understanding of mobile app functions, treatment or outcome efficacy, or underlying technology. In this work, we present a systematic review of mobile apps for treatment and support in TBI patients. We searched the online apps stores (Apple and Google), Google scholar and Pubmed, and narrowed our results to mobile apps with validation either through clinical trials (3) or research publications (11). The main domains these mobile apps covered were acute symptom assessment, symptom management and rehabilitation (memory, balance, attention, post-traumatic stress) and return to play. We reviewed prior literature and using information from published recommendations for TBI concussion evaluation mobile app selection (H. Lee, et. al, BMJ Sports Medicine, vol. 49, no.8, pp. 499-505, 2015), we develop a framework to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting TBI mobile apps for treatment and symptom management. We present this framework as an easy to use, brief checklist. Some key components of this framework include mobile app features such as intended use, evidence of validation or efficacy, cost, and support availability. The goal is for this checklist is for easy access and availability at TBI clinics for health care providers, care givers and patients.
Keywords: digital therapeutics, mobile apps, TBI assessment, TBI rehabilitation, TBI treatment, symptom management
