iMTracker

Name: iMTracker
Author: University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver

VALIDATED

Shows promise in preliminary research

For:General Public & Enthusiasts

Free

Download on the App Store

App Summary

iMTracker is a self-management tool that helps individuals with chronic recurrent conditions like pain or headaches identify potential lifestyle triggers by applying a personal N-of-1 trial framework. A preliminary pilot study (N=180) demonstrated the app was a feasible self-management tool for common chronic conditions and that its use improved user confidence in this self-monitoring approach. The associated research concludes that the app provides a viable platform for this N-of-1 method, as the high recurrence rate of such conditions is well-suited for personalized assessment.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, iMTracker is a self-management tool leveraging an N-of-1 trial framework. The interface allows for the selection of a recurring health outcome (e.g., headache) and potential correlating lifestyle variables (e.g., caffeine intake, exercise). The system requires a minimum of three days of data input, after which it calculates and displays a Phi statistic to quantify the association between selected variables and the outcome. All data is processed and stored locally.

Evidence & Research Context

A preliminary pilot study (N=180) assessed the feasibility of the app for the self-management of chronic recurrent medical conditions (CRMCs).
The study demonstrated reasonable adoption, with 70.9% of participants who completed follow-up reporting use of the app for the full three-month period.
Participants most frequently utilized the app to track chronic pain (37.7%), headaches (17.0%), and mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression (12.8%).
The authors concluded the N-of-1 framework is a feasible approach for self-management, though technical design was identified as a primary barrier to use.

Intended Use & Scope

The application is intended for individuals to conduct personal N-of-1 analyses of lifestyle factors and health outcomes. Its primary utility is to facilitate the identification of potential correlations for personal insight. The tool is not a substitute for clinical diagnosis or medical treatment; users must consult a physician before making any changes to their lifestyle or health regimen.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Pilot/Feasibility Study

Assessment of a Mobile Health iPhone App for Semiautomated Self-management of Chronic Recurrent Medical Conditions Using an N-of-1 Trial Framework: Feasibility Pilot Study

Mande et al. (2021) · JMIR Formative Research

Feasibility confirmed — 71% completed the 3-month self-management program using the N-of-1 approach.

Background: Management of chronic recurrent medical conditions (CRMCs), such as migraine headaches, chronic pain, and anxiety/depression, remains a major challenge for modern providers. Our team has developed an edge-based, semiautomated mobile health (mHealth) technology called iMTracker that employs the N-of-1 trial approach to allow self-management of CRMCs. Objective: This study examines the patterns of adoption, identifies CRMCs that users selected for self-application, and explores barriers to use of the iMTracker app. Methods: This is a feasibility pilot study with internet-based recruitment that ran from May 15, 2019, to December 23, 2020. We recruited 180 patients to pilot test the iMTracker app for user-selected CRMCs for a 3-month period. Patients were administered surveys before and after the study. Results: We found reasonable usage rates: a total of 73/103 (70.9%) patients who were not lost to follow-up reported the full 3-month use of the app. Most users chose to use the iMTracker app to self-manage chronic pain (other than headaches; 80/212, 37.7%), followed by headaches in 36/212 (17.0%) and mental health (anxiety and depression) in 27/212 (12.8%). The recurrence rate of CRMCs was at least weekly in over 93% (169/180) of patients, with 36.1% (65/180) of CRMCs recurring multiple times in a day, 41.7% (75/180) daily, and 16.1% (29/180) weekly. We found that the main barriers to use were the design and technical function of the app, but that use of the app resulted in an improvement in confidence in the efficiency and safety/privacy of this approach. Conclusions: The iMTracker app provides a feasible platform for the N-of-1 trial approach to self-management of CRMCs, although internet-based recruitment provided limited follow-up, suggesting that in-person evaluation may be needed. The rate of CRMC recurrence was high enough to allow the N-of-1 trial assessment for most traits.