Mobile-Based Medication Management Applications: A Scoping Review of Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

Mobile-based applications are increasingly used to support patient self-management and medication adherence. Despite advantages, there is limited research on their essential functional and non-functional requirements. This study aimed to identify functional and non-functional requirements of mobile-based medication management applications. This scoping review was conducted in 2025 by searching Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science databases, Google Scholar, and Persian-language databases, including Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran. Studies published in English and Persian between 2010 and 2024 were screened for eligibility. Relevant studies which met the inclusion criteria were selected, reviewed, and analysed descriptively. A total of 38 articles were included. Functional requirements included medication information, recommendations, alerts, reminders, medication search, data sharing with healthcare providers, drug interaction information, and side effect reporting. Non-functional requirements consisted of ease of use, scalability, synchronisation, accessibility, compatibility, security, and reliability. Defining functional and non-functional requirements is essential for designing effective medication management applications. The findings provided actionable insights for developers and healthcare stakeholders to build user-centred, secure, and reliable mobile-based solutions, ultimately improving patient outcomes in medication adherence and self-management.