Usability of Pharmacy Mobile Apps for Medication Management

Abstract

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have transformed the way patients manage their medications, enabling greater adherence, better communication with pharmacists, and real-time monitoring of therapy progress. Pharmacy mobile apps are emerging as crucial tools that integrate prescription management, refill reminders, adverse effect reporting, and medication information databases. However, their usability—defined by ease of navigation, learnability, accessibility, and satisfaction—plays a decisive role in determining their effectiveness. This study examines the usability of pharmacy mobile applications for medication management by synthesizing literature, analyzing usability frameworks, and conducting a structured usability evaluation protocol.

The research employs a mixed-methods approach combining heuristic evaluation, System Usability Scale (SUS) scoring, and patient interviews to assess factors influencing user adoption. Results reveal that high usability correlates strongly with medication adherence, reduced dispensing errors, and improved patient engagement. Key challenges include inconsistent interface design, limited integration with electronic health records (EHR), and inadequate accessibility features for elderly patients. Recommendations include applying user-centered design principles, incorporating AI-driven personalization, and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. The findings provide actionable insights for developers, pharmacists, and healthcare policy makers aiming to improve mHealth interventions for medication management.