Impact of the Cardio-Meds Mobile App on Heart Failure Knowledge and Medication Adherence : Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Article Article scientifique Article Impact of the Cardio-Meds Mobile App on Heart Failure Knowledge and Medication Adherence : Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial eng 2026-02-23 author Buswell Victor 0009-0009-0449-0119 945254 author Massie Emmanuelle 0000-0002-2205-0768 author Tessitore Elena 0000-0003-1680-0152 750991 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Simioni Lisa Marion 0009-0000-7411-827X 844993 author Guébey Guillaume Gaëtan Georges 0009-0009-5347-4027 926401 author Hagberg Hamdi 0009-0005-6117-4922 author Schneider-Paccot Aurélie 0009-0003-5872-882X author Pant Samaksha 0009-0004-5208-1129 727466 author Blondon Katherine 0000-0002-9407-8516 105577 Centre interprofessionnel de simulation (CISFM) author Gschwind Tran Liliane 0009-0001-6896-3327 640977 Liliane Gschwind author Ehrler Frédéric 0000-0001-9734-3242 509959 author Meyer Philippe 0000-0002-2430-8953 48187 Département de médecine (DEMED) e83022 10.2196/83022 41730174 2561-1011 PMC12928692 https://cardio.jmir.org/2026/1/e83022 Background : Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent chronic condition for which optimal management depends not only on guideline-directed medical therapy but also on patients’ understanding of their disease, recognition of warning signs, and sustained medication adherence, which remains challenging in routine care. Mobile health interventions may support therapeutic education and self-management; however, many available apps lack validated content and local relevance. Cardio-Meds is a mobile app developed at Geneva University Hospitals to support HF self-management through structured educational content, interactive quizzes, medication lists with reminders, and tools for monitoring weight and vital signs. Objective : This study aims to evaluate the impact of a 30-day Cardio-Meds intervention on HF knowledge and medication adherence in patients with HF with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction. Methods : We conducted a single-center, pilot randomized controlled trial in patients followed at the outpatient HF clinic or enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation at Geneva University Hospitals in 2024. Eligible participants had HF with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%, were receiving HF-specific pharmacotherapy, speak French, and owned a smartphone. Participants were recruited by phone and randomized to Cardio-Meds use for 30 days, a self-guided intervention with a single standardized technical support call. Outcomes were self-assessed using standardized questionnaires: HF knowledge and self-management using the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale (DHFKS; score range 0‐15); medication adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale, covering initiation, implementation, and persistence; and usability in the intervention group using the System Usability Scale (score range 0‐100). Between-group differences in DHFKS scores were analyzed using analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline values. Results : A total of 49 participants were included (25 intervention, 24 control); 78% (n=38) were male, and the mean age was 62 (SD 11.4) years. In the intervention group, median app usage was 123 (IQR 74‐273) minutes, with a median of 43 (IQR 19‐85) logins. Mean baseline DHFKS scores were similar between groups (intervention 11.1, SD 2.4 vs control 10.5, SD 2.9). At 30 days, mean scores increased significantly in the intervention group (12.4, SD 2.4; mean change +1.3; P <.001) and remained stable in the control group (10.4, SD 3; mean change –0.1; P =.82), with a significant adjusted between-group difference of +1.3 points ( P <.001). No significant between-group differences were observed for medication adherence. Usability was high, with a mean score of 84.3 (SD 15), and 64% (16/25) of intervention participants reported that they would continue using the app. Conclusions : In a stable ambulatory HF population, the Cardio-Meds intervention demonstrated short-term improvement in HF knowledge, while no effect was observed on medication adherence within the 30-day follow-up period. The app showed high usability and acceptability. Larger multicenter studies with longer follow-up are needed to assess clinical impact. Digital health intervention Heart failure MHealth Medication adherence Mobile health Patient education Randomized controlled trial Dewey 616.0757 Dewey 616 Dewey 617 56 Département de médecine 221 63 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences 229 62 Département de radiologie et informatique médicale 227 false JMIR cardio 10 86dee89a-743c-4e46-a860-df2a8d47d27e Article (Published version) Public cardio-2026-1-e83022.pdf 2252702 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 237e2b97944934e151e94d72d97d6394f70ae721bf577960868bfac20a4740c8 0062ea5b-8662-4c4a-b590-145fd4f85a38 Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app1.docx 17640 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 342d6b32ce8a493d04c2e4d15f9eb04810ac318053b05367fa143346c6382a66 8bfdff5d-987b-4b94-bbd2-1cbf65ae13f6 Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app2.docx 27236 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 62126284cab5e51e9b9698464f2d45567749cde82c93719941cdb6c9a8da78c4 228956e6-ffd0-43ed-b96d-4fd2aedd632e Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app3.docx 285013 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 83250cec2a079035c682f9ed6f6895905b69404de7dff9ce3e7b210fac821b04 6f62169c-b2a8-4a77-af6b-bdba2752c802 Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app4.docx 19906 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 587e1afa69fc1da251c9ac7ab3a24bb59fd5040e65649fd0e5199303d5585c6e 28ae103c-517a-415a-a1f3-89256db48358 Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app5.docx 19741 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 5ad52cce46f158eefa6ffa5eeaf6cc3258bc99398e74b5e3622dfcd1b4edabf8 a9728c29-3022-414b-9d47-5e0efc9ab129 Supplemental data Public cardio_v10i1e83022_app6.pdf 465578 application/pdf ab6f5f0b3a5184fcd4ae0dfaee5982956f6a63b9e2436dc0074783e09dd097eb openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de médecine Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de radiologie et informatique médicale

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Impact of the Cardio-Meds Mobile App on Heart Failure Knowledge and Medication Adherence : Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial	JMIR cardio	2026	1	0
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