Mobile health (mHealth) for headache disorders: A review of the evidence base
Abstract
The aim of this review was to explore and summarise the evidence base for using mobile apps for the management of headache disorders. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus were searched for studies reporting the use of mobile health applications (apps) for managing headache disorders. Different combinations of keywords for mobile health, smartphone and headache were used for electronic search. Six studies (two journal papers and four conference papers) met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. All of the reviewed studies were categorised as the lowest level (level IV) of evidence according to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) hierarchy of evidence. The results of the studies demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a few mobile apps for headache in very limited settings, and indicated that these apps can be effective tools for identifying trigger factors of migraine, improving self-management of headache disorders, and mediating the interactions between headache sufferers and their treating doctors. The role of participatory research and involvement of patients and clinicians in the development of such apps was also highlighted. Despite the availability of numerous mobile apps for headache disorders, the evidence base to support their effectiveness and clinical safety is very weak. The current literature indicates that mobile apps have the potential for improving the care of headache sufferers, but this is yet to be proven by adequately designed studies.
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Evidence of the effectiveness of app-based behavioral interventions for managing headaches remains weak.
“However, evidence of the effectiveness of app-based behavioral interventions for managing headaches remains weak [44,47].”
Evidence on the effectiveness of mobile interventions for headaches is limited, despite their wide availability.
“Evidence on the effectiveness of mobile interventions for headaches is limited, despite their wide availability [47].”
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Behavioral Interventions for Migraine
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“Evidence on the effectiveness of mobile interventions for headaches is limited, despite their wide availability [47].”
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- Authors
- Mosadeghi-Nik, M., Askari, M. S., & Fatehi, F.
- Affiliations
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Askari, Marzyeh S
- Venue
- Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-10-30
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 472-477
- ISSN
- 1357-633X (ISSN-L)
- 1758-1109
- OpenAlex
- W2542876380
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 11.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Migraine and Headache Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- mobile health, headache disorders, migraine, mobile health apps, migraine triggers, patient-clinician interaction, participatory research, app development, feasibility and acceptability, evidence base
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Treatment Outcome, Telemedicine, Evidence-Based Medicine, Headache Disorders, Mobile Applications
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