Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41357695›Full record

ReviewIranian journal of public health2025

mHealth Apps for Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review.

Anwar Fazal Abu Bakar, Azimatun Noor Aizuddin, Roszita Ibrahim, Muhammad Zulfakhar Zubir, Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi, Hamed Khazaei

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Iranian journal of public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anwar Fazal Abu BakarDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Azimatun Noor AizuddinDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Roszita IbrahimDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Muhammad Zulfakhar ZubirDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Wan Asyraf Wan ZaidiDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hamed KhazaeiScipeline, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers of stroke patients play a critical role in post-stroke recovery, yet they often face significant challenges, including physical and emotional stress, lack of knowledge, and limited access to resources. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer a promising solution to support caregivers by providing education, task management, and mental health resources. However, gaps remain in understanding the effectiveness, functionalities, and limitations of these apps. This study aimed to 1) identify and categorize existing mHealth apps for family caregivers of stroke patients, 2) evaluate the effectiveness of these apps in supporting caregivers, and 3) analyze the gaps in current mHealth offerings to inform future app development. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 30 studies published between 2014 and 2024 from databases such as IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The studies were evaluated based on app functionality and effectiveness in caregiver support, and limitations were identified. Results: The findings revealed a diverse range of mHealth apps offering functionalities such as caregiver education, rehabilitation guidance, task management, communication tools, and health monitoring. However, notable gaps were identified, including limited multi-functionality, insufficient support for caregiver well-being, a lack of customization for diverse needs, and minimal validation through rigorous trials. Conclusion: While mHealth apps provide valuable tools for family caregivers of stroke patients, addressing the identified gaps is essential to maximize their impact. Future Development should focus on creating comprehensive, user-centered, and evidence-based apps that integrate education, mental health support, and task management.

Indexed as

Caregiver burdenDigital healthmHealth appsRehabilitationStroke caregivers

Identifiers

PMID41357695
PMCPMC12675943

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.