Real-Time Graphical Health Data Tracking in Clinical Research Mobile Apps: A Technical Framework for Enhanced Patient-Reported Outcome Collection

Abstract

Patient-reported outcomes have become essential components of contemporary clinical trials, yet traditional data collection methods suffer from delayed availability, reduced patient compliance, and limited real-time clinical insight capabilities. This article presents a comprehensive technical framework for implementing real-time graphical health data tracking through cross-platform mobile applications specifically designed for clinical environments. The framework leverages iOS Core Data architecture with SwiftUI Charts integration and Android Jetpack Compose with LiveData binding, synchronized through encrypted REST APIs to ensure HIPAA-compliant data transmission and storage. Implementation validation occurred through the MySTORI mobile application deployed within an NIH-funded brain cancer clinical trial involving participants across multiple clinical sites. Results demonstrate significant improvements in data accuracy, patient compliance rates, and clinical researcher data accessibility. The technical framework successfully processed extensive symptom log entries with high synchronization reliability while maintaining rapid response times for graphical data visualization. Security protocols maintained zero incidents throughout the deployment period, while comprehensive audit trails supported regulatory compliance requirements. Clinical outcomes include enhanced patient engagement through immediate visual feedback, improved clinical decision-making through real-time data access, and accelerated research timelines through automated data processing. The implementation establishes a validated model for enhancing mobile health applications in clinical contexts, providing immediate visual feedback to patients while delivering real-time analytical insights to clinical investigators. This technical framework addresses fundamental limitations in traditional patient-reported outcome collection methodologies while maintaining strict regulatory compliance standards essential for clinical trial environments.