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 for daily works.
NOTE: All the hyperlinks below are for Android devices.
Malaysia Localized Apps
- A progressive web app that provides drug information on the latest Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF) in Malaysia.
- Brand name search is not available.
MIMS Malaysia and MIMS Gateway Mobile (Malaysia)
- MIMS Malaysia requires internet access, while MIMS Gateway Mobile offers an offline database (last updated in October 2018).
Drug Counselling & Medication (Android only)
- Provides a good starting point for medical device counselling, but information may not be updated.
Premium Apps Requiring Individual or Institutional Subscriptions
- 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 consolidated access to Drug Reference, Drug Interactions, IV Compatibility, NeoFax, Pediatrics and calculators. Nonetheless, the drug information is not as extensive as the Micromedex® web.
- An annual subscription is required.
- Free features include Skyscape Rx - Drug Guide, Clinical Consult, Clinical Calculator and MedBeats (breaking medical news).
- 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 14-day free trial to the 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.
- The free version does not include disease information, which is available through a collaboration with BMJ Best Practice.
- Notably, epocrates has discontinued offering its mobile application and the option to purchase an epocrates+ subscription to non-U.S.-based customers.
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.
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.
Antibiotic Specific App
Sanford Guide Antimicrobial- 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.
Breastfeeding
- LactRx by MotherToBaby is a free app designed to provide current information regarding the use of medications, vaccines, diagnostic agents and drugs of misuse while breastfeeding.
- This app offers convenient access to the National Library of Medicine's LactMed database.
G6PD Deficiency
- Search for drugs that are unsafe or of low-risk to G6PD deficient patients.
Herbs
- Comprehensve information about herbs and botanicals with purported benefits, side effects and drug interactions presented by the Integrative Medicine Service of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- Research-based information about the safety and effectiveness of herbal products from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
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.
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.
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, but lacking active and engaging interactions from practicing pharmacists at Malaysia.
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.
Also, the emergence of artificial intelligence, with its ability to provide quick and easy answers, should be optimally utilized by pharmacists.
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