Design and development of a mobile application for drug information and other health data for users and patients of pharmacies and outpatient pharmaceutical services

Abstract

Background

The advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed multiple sectors, including healthcare, by enhancing access to information, optimizing service management, and reshaping interactions between healthcare professionals and users.

Objective

(1) To enhance the accessibility and quality of PC services, (2) to advance digital health implementation in Colombia by integrating pharmaceutical practice with innovative technological solutions that promote patient empowerment and patient- centered care models, (3) to demonstrate a comprehensive workflow for developing e- health applications using a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach.

Methods

The study employed a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach, structured in four phases: (1) identification of user needs through an exploratory review and a descriptive study; (2) gathering and prioritization of functional requirements using the MoSCoW method; (3) design and development of a prototype based on six thematic databases; and (4) usability testing through task-based user evaluations and satisfaction rating scales.

Results

A total of 72 functional requirements were identified and categorized into two main groups: those related to information provision and those linked to specific application features. Twenty functionalities were prioritized as essential, including drug information searches, healthy lifestyle guidance, medication intake reminders, and pharmacy geolocation. The final prototype comprised eight functional modules.Usability testing showed that 100 % of users completed most tasks, with task times under one minute and high satisfaction scores across all evaluated components.

Conclusions

The application demonstrated high levels of acceptance and usability, establishing itself as a potentially effective tool to improve access to pharmaceutical care services, empower patients, and promote safe medication use in outpatient settings. Additionally, the methodology presented in this study may serve as a reference for the development of future digital health tools.