Medical Mobile Applications
Introduction
Pharmacists play a vital role in providing accurate drug information to patients and other healthcare professionals.
- As technology advances, it is increasingly common for pharmacists to utilize several medical mobile applications on their smartphones.
NOTE: All the hyperlinks below are for Android devices.
Premium Apps Requiring Individual or Institutional Subscriptions
BMJ Best Practice- A clinical decision support tool published by BMJ Group, offering resources for healthcare professionals.
- The comorbidities tool is a recent addition launched in 2020.
- A clinical search engine from Elsevier, providing access to full-text books, journals, guidelines, and multimedia resources.
DynaMed or DynaMedex
- DynaMed is one of the leading evidence-based clinical resources for use at the point of care.
- Treatment recommendations are well supported with evidence and international guidelines are being compared.
- DynaMedex offers all the information found in DynaMed, along with additional features like Micromedex drug information (including NeoFax and Pediatrics specialty dosing resources), differential diagnosis tools, IV compatibility and drug interaction checkers.
Micromedex
- This resource provides comprehensive drug information at a reasonable cost, though it is not as extensive as the Micromedex® web.
- An annual subscription is required.
- Free features include Skyscape Rx, Clinical Calculator, and Clinical Consult.
- Skyscape partners with more than 35 respected publishers and content providers to offer access to over 400 medical resources, such as AHFS Drug Information, Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment, Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, Harriet Lane Handbook, Ferri's Clinical Advisor, The 5-Minute Clinical Consult and Harrison’s Manual of Medicine.
- This cross-searchable collection of electronic resources includes resources such as 5-Minute Clinical Consult, AHFS Drug Information, Handbook on Injectable Drugs, Compounding Sterile Preparations, Oxford Textbook of Medicine, Paediatric Injectable Drugs (The Teddy Bear Book) and Trissel’s Stability of Compounded Formulations.
- Therapeutic Guidelines (formerly eTG complete) offers comprehensive guidance on a wide range of clinical topics integrated into a searchable digital platform.
- A leading decision-support resource with evidence-based clinical information, including drug topics and recommendations relied upon by clinicians at the point of care.
- UpToDate Lexidrug (formerly Lexicomp) provides continuously updated content on new medication uses and dosing, along with tools to assess drug interactions and allergies.
- New individual users receives a one-month free trial to UpToDate Lexidrug Hospital Pharmacist Package.
Top Free Drug Information Apps
BNF Publications (UK only)- This app offers an up-to-date offline reference to the British National Formulary and the British National Formulary for Children.
- The drug database is updated monthly.
Drugs.com Medication Guide
- This ad-supported app provides a drug information database and requires an internet connection.
- AHFS Drug Information Monographs are also accessible here for free.
- A widely used drug database offering drug monographs and a drug interaction checker.
- However, the free version lacks disease information, available in collaboration with BMJ Best Practice.
Medscape
- A free login account allows access to a wide range of topics, including medicine, drug interactions, diseases, and medical calculators.
- Downloaded content can be accessed offline.
- The Prescribers’ Digital Reference (PDR) is a compilation of manufacturer’s prescribing information on prescription drugs. The original PDR was titled “Physicians’ Desk Reference”.
- Available for free in website and US Google play store (not Malaysia).
- However, the database content on the mobile application may not be as current as on the website.
Malaysia Localized Apps
Blue Book + CPG Malaysia
Drug Counselling & Medication Guides (Android only)- Last updated with Malaysia Ministry of Health Medicine Formulary 2023-2.
- The brand name search is not extensive, limited to proprietary brand name.
- Useful for identifying prescriber categories in Ministry of Health settings.
- Provides a good starting point for device counselling, but information may not be comprehensive or current.
HCTM Formulary
- A drug formulary reference app created and maintained by PPUKM.
- MIMS Malaysia requires internet access, while MIMS Gateway Mobile offers an offline database (last updated in October 2018).
Antibiotic Specific App
Sanford Guide- This subscriber-based app provides combined content on Antimicrobial Therapy, HIV/AIDS Therapy, and Hepatitis Therapy.
- Full-text search and intuitive menus facilitate content access.
Medical Calculator Specific Apps
Calculate by QxMD and MDCalc Medical Calculator- Both free and user-friendly options offering comprehensive medical calculators.
- Additional information about formulas is available.
Paediatric Drug Dosing App
DrugDoses- A one-time purchase grants lifetime access to Frank Shann's little booklet, which has helped physicians all around the world prescribe drugs to children.
- Updated with the latest database from Frank Shann’s 17th edition.
- A paediatric medicine formulary belongs to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
- Useful notes are included in each drug monographs.
Miscellaneous
- Sharpen your clinical skills by exploring realistic interactive scenarios.
- A practical guide to the safe use of common adult medications, featuring helpful tips.
- A reliable and accessible medical article repository, offering a quick refresher for healthcare professionals.
- Search for drugs that are unsafe or of low-risk to G6PD deficient patients.
MSD Manual Professional, MSD Manual Consumer and MSD Vet Manual
- These free medical resources provide concise overviews of various medical topics.
- A community-focused app for pharmacy professionals.
Summary
It is important to note that there are many more medical mobile applications available in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- However, the apps listed in this blog post are those that you may commonly use.
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