KRS Website: Mobile Apps & Resources: Spectrum

To keep you updated on the go, our ‘app of the month’ highlights one free informational app every month!

Past Features

Librarian reviewers consider the audience and purpose of the apps, as well as highlighting additional features:

In the ‘Evidence’ section, we assess how easily an app user can identify the app’s currency and support from the evidence
In the ‘Usability’ section, we assess the organization of information and other usability factors that may contribute to user experience

Our complete grading criteria for evidence and usability are embedded in the review.

Please note that the reviewers are not healthcare professionals, and so cannot appraise the quality of any recommendations within the app. The reviews are not endorsements.

View the AHS policy on Mobile Wireless Devices and Services.

Spectrum

Reviewers	Marcus Vaska & Pamela Harrison
Version reviewed:	2.1
Device & OS used:	iPad, iOS 10.2.1 & iPhone SE, iOS 10.3.1
Date of review:	April 22, 2017

Complete Evaluation

Image Source: Spectrum, Google Play. Retrieved on May 11, 2017 from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spectrum&hl=en

App developer	Spectrum Mobile Health Inc. Antimicrobial stewardship working group: Paul Campsall, Vikas Chaubey, John Conly, Bruce Dalton, Daniel Gregson, Barry Kushner, Bayan Missaghi, Elizabeth Parfitt, Steve Vaughan, Danny Zuege
Contact	http://spectrum.md/; support@spectrum.md
Devices	Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch [iOS 8.0+], last updated February 18, 2017
	Android, [Android 4.1+], last updated February 7, 2017
Country of origin	Canada
Size	6.9 MB

Specialties/ Disciplines	Healthcare workers involved in antimicrobial stewardship
Comments	Includes information applicable to multiple professions (e.g. pharmacists, intensivists, infectious disease specialists)

Stated Purpose

Customizable decision support app that uses algorithmic format to “deliver local antimicrobial stewardship resources” including:

Local guidelines
Local resistance data
Local epidemiology
Pathogen information
Antimicrobial information
ID consult requests

(Source: app website: http://Spectrum.md)

Notes

This app is not selling an external product or service.

Part 1: Editorial committee, content updates, and evidence grading

Antimicrobial Stewardship Working Group names provided, but without affiliations

Transparency of evidence is lacking: no dates for content updates, apart from App Store/Google Play listing information

No evidence grading.

However, the app website lists the following endorsements (Source: spectrum.md):

Calgary implementation received a LEADing practice award form Canada Health InfoWay and Accreditation Canada
Trusted by Alberta Health Services, Providence Health Care, and IWK Health Centre

Part 2: Source and authorship information for 3 entries

Entries do not provide source information; quality must be inferred from endorsements (see above), and membership of Antimicrobial Stewardship Working Group

Complete Evaluation

Organization of information

Intuitive organization of information allows users to easily scan points and icons for relevant information

Navigation

Information is structured in algorithmic format to allow quick, case-specific navigation: the user proceeds down a customized pathway to find specific information

Some screens will ask users to patient characteristics (e.g. age range, measurements, previous infections) or setting features (e.g. long term care, acute care) to deliver customized information

Internet connection required for use: No; Text search field: No; Browsable content: Yes; Advertisements: No; Pop-up advertisements: No; In-app purchases: No

Complete Evaluation

Checklists gather information to provide user with customized care pathway information, using algorithmic format

Mobile Apps & Resources: Spectrum

Past Features

Spectrum

Spectrum

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