NR 599 Week 6 Medical Application Critical Appraisal Guidelines

Sample Answer

Part 2: MediCalc Critical Appraisal

Name

• The medical application for an appraisal is MediCalc

Author

SkyMed, a medical app business, created MediCalc. MediCalc is not the same as MedCalc, with which it is sometimes mistaken. The software was created by doctors for doctors. A. Arthuro Rodriguez, M.D., M.B.A., and Senior Vice-President and Co-Founder Ignacio Rodriguez, J.D., L.L.M. comprised the editors’ group behind the software’s inception. The application is also maintained by the same developer (SkyMed) where they add features that are significant in the medical sector (Ebell et al., 1995).

The developer also solves all issues that arise from using the app where most problems are discovered through user reviews. SkyMed is likewise dedicated to safeguarding users’ internet privacy. The creators believe that the user should be aware of how they manage the data they gather from customers (Ozarkar, 2022)s. ScyMed, on the other hand, does not influence the security policies and procedures of other third-party sites, and users should consult the conditions of those sites for further information on the rules that apply to those sites if they have any concerns.

Endorsement

There is no proof that the app is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or just about any healthcare professional body or educational organization, according to the ScyMed and MediCalc investigation (Ozarkar, 2022). There appears to be a dearth of details on an endorsement. Solely medical professionals should use the app because it only covers the usage of apps in a hospital context. However, it is unclear whether the website or application is a result of a partnership with another government body.

Operation

ScyMed Inc owns all of the data on its websites and software, which is guided by copyright laws, trademark laws, and other patent laws in the United States and across the world. ScyMed thus provides the user with a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use the Websites for the prices and terms mentioned in their agreement during the subscription period to ScyMed online. The application is a mobile application that is compatible with both android and IOS operating systems (Iglesias-Posadilla et al., 2017). The application is compatible with iPhones, iPad (compatible), and iPod touch as long as they have an iOS 5.1 or later one. The app also functions in all android phones with a lollipop operating system or an updated one.

Aesthetics

Because it starts with a list of systems, this software is simple to use. As a user progresses through the systems, they see a list of all the medical calculators that are present in that platform. The calculator is simple to operate. Simply enter the values required by the equation in the input field (Ozarkar, 2022). When the user hits calculate, the values in the output area will fill. The text for abnormal values will be red. The app is also searchable, and it offers references organized by a system for ease of use (Ebell et al., 1995). The software includes a user-friendly layout with tables of contents, conversions, and a formula directory in drop-down boxes on the left.

Haematology, Renal, Cardiology, Gastrointestinal, Pulmonary, Nutritional, and Endocrine are the divisions in which the information is structured (Ozarkar, 2022). You may get a broad variety of medical three calculators by clicking on any of the divisions. The calculators are color-coded, with normal and abnormal numbers displayed in different colors. Moreover, the application’s version 15.2 has a user interface that allows users to choose between English, French, Spanish, German, and Chinese as their preferred language.

Purpose

MediCalc was created to meet the medical needs of all active adults in society regardless of their gender. On Android Medical, MediCalc is the most popular clinic app. It is appropriate for persons who require this type of software to live a healthy lifestyle. It makes it easier to organize and process the data of the patient (Ozarkar, 2022). It’s an excellent tool for patient care since it has all of the necessary medical calculators and information, is simple to use, and saves time.

Privacy/Security

Users should know how the developers manage the information they provide. Users can visit the website of developers without disclosing any private information. They are not required to collect any demographic data about patients. However, to analyze clinical data or access certain of the developer’s content and services, users must give patient information (Iglesias-Posadilla et al., 2017). During registration, ScyMed does not collect or utilize any personal information.

For registration, only a few details are necessary. Users do not need to register to utilize the online systems. Some parts may require previous registration and passwords to access. ScyMed may contain hyperlinks to third-party Web sites (Iglesias-Posadilla et al., 2017). The developers have no control over the privacy policies and practices of other third-party sites, and users should consult the terms of those sites for further details about the rules that apply to those sites if they have any issues.

User

When installing this app, the terms and conditions require that the user must be above the age of 18 years. The primary target users for this software are all medical practitioners because all the features present relate to medicine (Ebell et al., 1995). The app is only meant for healthcare workers because all of the terms used relate to the profession and it is hard for a non -practitioner to understand. Also, the calculations done using the app are for medical use; thus it is hard for regular people to get the required data.

Distribution

MediCalc was first developed in America, but it has gained global popularity where medical practitioners across the world have embraced using the application to ease their jobs.

Credibility

MediCalc is a credit application based on the accuracy of the results posted when used. Different medical practitioners have given feedback on the review section and they have indicated that it is fast, easy, and correct, especially in computing kidney function and the Monthly Index of Medical Specialties for drug interaction.

Relevance

This application is in the modern’s medical field because it keeps on updating and correcting all the equations and formulas within the setup. The latest version of the application was updated in 2021 and there were different versions for the compatible devices (Ozarkar, 2022). The frequent update of the software ensures that the data contained is at par with the changes in the medical sector.

Part 3: Example

I visited a private hospital that used MediCalc to calculate CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score for Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Risk. This is a condition that is very much rampant in adults, especially those above the age of 65 years. In a non-anticoagulated patient with non-valvular AF, this score is one of several risk classification schemes that can assist identify the 1-year risk of a TE episode. The CHA2DS2-VASc score, as well as other risk prediction schemes, can be used to estimate a patient’s TE risk. This test is vital because, for individuals with atrial fibrillation, it aids in the long-term risk stratification of stroke (Bierbrier & Wu, 2014).

The risk was determined using different factors like an age where individuals who were less than 65 years of age scored (0) because they were not at a high risk of developing the complication. Individuals aged between 6574 years scored (+1), while those aged 75 years and above scored (+2) due to the high risk. Another factor used was sex where females scored (+1) due to their higher chances of developing the condition while males scored (0) due to their lower chances of developing the complication (Piran et al., 2019).

Other factors considered included CHF history, Hypertension history, Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism history, vascular disease history, and Diabetes history. If the answer to any of the factors is no, the score is zero, while if the answer is yes, the score is +1 apart from Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism history which scores +2 for a yes answer.

Additionally, when the patient is asked for all these details, the medical practitioner conducting the diagnosis will open the MediCalc and search for CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. The medical practitioner will key in the scores and the application will provide a final result on the patient’s risk to develop the complication being tested. The healthcare worker may decide to conduct the calculation with the patient or get the results individually then share with the patient (Bierbrier & Wu, 2014).

The app will have a significant impact on the scenario because it will shorten the period taken to carry out the calculations and make the diagnosis (Piran et al., 2019). When the results reflect faster, the doctor can advise the patient on the best step to take to prevent the medical complication from attacking.

References

• Bierbrier, R., Lo, V., & Wu, R. C. (2014). Evaluation of the accuracy of smartphone medical calculation apps. Journal of medical Internet Research, 16(2), e3062.
• Ebell, M. H., Hale, W., Buchanan, J. E., & Dake, P. (1995). Hand-held computers for family physicians. Journal of Family Practice, 41(4), 385-393.
• El Hadidy, T. S., Alshafei, A. E., Mortell, A. E., & Doherty, E. M. (2018). Smartphones in clinical practice doctors’ experience at two Dublin paediatric teaching hospitals. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971-), 187(3), 565-573.
• Iglesias-Posadilla, D., Gómez-Marcos, V., & Hernández-Tejedor, A. (2017). Apps and intensive care medicine. Medicina Intensiva (English Edition), 41(4), 227-236.
• Ozarkar, T. (2013). MediCalc iPhone and iPad medical app review. iMedicalApps. Retrieved 7 March 2022, from https //www.imedicalapps.com/2013/06/medicalc-medical-calculator-app-iphone/.
• Piran, P., Thomas, J., Kunnakkat, S., Pandey, A., Gilles, N., Weingast, S., … & Levine, S. R. (2019). Medical mobile applications for stroke survivors and caregivers. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 28(11), 104318.