A review and content analysis of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, and change techniques in the most popular commercial apps for weight management

被引:233
作者
Bardus, Marco [1 ,2 ]
van Beurden, Samantha B. [2 ]
Smith, Jane R. [2 ]
Abraham, Charles [2 ]
机构
[1] Amer Univ Beirut, Dept Hlth Promot & Community Hlth, Beirut 11072020, Lebanon
[2] Univ Exeter, Sch Med, Psychol Appl Hlth Grp, St Lukes Campus,Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX1 2LU, Devon, England
基金
瑞士国家科学基金会;
关键词
Smartphone; Mobile apps; Mobile health (mhealth); Behaviour change techniques; Weight loss; Weight management; BEHAVIOR-CHANGE TECHNIQUES; PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; MOBILE PHONE; HEALTH; EXERCISE; TAXONOMY; OBESITY; METAANALYSIS; CONSUMERS; TOOL;
D O I
10.1186/s12966-016-0359-9
中图分类号
R15 [营养卫生、食品卫生]; TS201 [基础科学];
学科分类号
100403 ;
摘要
Background: There are thousands of apps promoting dietary improvement, increased physical activity (PA) and weight management. Despite a growing number of reviews in this area, popular apps have not been comprehensively analysed in terms of features related to engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, and content, including the types of change techniques employed. Methods: The databases containing information about all Health and Fitness apps on GP and iTunes (7,954 and 25,491 apps) were downloaded in April 2015. Database filters were applied to select the most popular apps available in both stores. Two researchers screened the descriptions selecting only weight management apps. Features, app quality and content were independently assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and previously-defined categories of techniques relevant to behaviour change. Inter-coder reliabilities were calculated, and correlations between features explored. Results: Of the 23 popular apps included in the review 16 were free (70 %), 15 (65 %) addressed weight control, diet and PA combined; 19 (83 %) allowed behavioural tracking. On 5-point MARS scales, apps were of average quality (Md = 3.2, IQR = 1.4); "functionality" (Md = 4.0, IQR = 1.1) was the highest and "information quality" (Md = 2.0, IQR = 1.1) was the lowest domain. On average, 10 techniques were identified per app (range: 1-17) and of the 34 categories applied, goal setting and self-monitoring techniques were most frequently identified. App quality was positively correlated with number of techniques included (rho = .58, p < .01) and number of "technical" features (rho = .48, p < .05), which was also associated with the number of techniques included (rho = .61, p < .01). Apps that provided tracking used significantly more techniques than those that did not. Apps with automated tracking scored significantly higher in engagement, aesthetics, and overall MARS scores. Those that used change techniques previously associated with effectiveness (i.e., goal setting, self-monitoring and feedback) also had better "information quality". Conclusions: Popular apps assessed have overall moderate quality and include behavioural tracking features and a range of change techniques associated with behaviour change. These apps may influence behaviour, although more attention to information quality and evidence-based content are warranted to improve their quality.
引用
收藏
页数:9
相关论文
共 45 条
[1]   A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions [J].
Abraham, Charles ;
Michie, Susan .
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 2008, 27 (03) :379-387
[2]   Use of mobile phones as a tool for weight loss: a systematic review [J].
Aguilar-Martinez, Alicia ;
Sole-Sedeno, Josep M. ;
Mancebo-Moreno, Gemma ;
Medina, F. Xavier ;
Carreras-Collado, Ramon ;
Saigi-Rubio, Francesc .
JOURNAL OF TELEMEDICINE AND TELECARE, 2014, 20 (06) :339-349
[3]  
[Anonymous], GOOGLE PLAY NOW HAS
[4]  
[Anonymous], 2010, P 12 INT C HUMAN COM
[5]   HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY Which app should I use? [J].
Armstrong, Stephen .
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 2015, 351
[6]   Mobile Applications for Weight Management Theory-Based Content Analysis [J].
Azar, Kristen M. J. ;
Lesser, Lenard I. ;
Laing, Brian Y. ;
Stephens, Janna ;
Aurora, Magi S. ;
Burke, Lora E. ;
Palaniappan, Latha P. .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, 2013, 45 (05) :583-589
[7]   Mobile Phone and Web 2.0 Technologies for Weight Management: A Systematic Scoping Review [J].
Bardus, Marco ;
Smith, Jane R. ;
Samaha, Laya ;
Abraham, Charles .
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH, 2015, 17 (11)
[8]   Weight loss-there is an app for that! But does it adhere to evidence-informed practices? [J].
Breton, Emily R. ;
Fuemmeler, Bernard F. ;
Abroms, Lorien C. .
TRANSLATIONAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 2011, 1 (04) :523-529
[9]   CONTROL-THEORY - A USEFUL CONCEPTUAL-FRAMEWORK FOR PERSONALITY-SOCIAL, CLINICAL, AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY [J].
CARVER, CS ;
SCHEIER, MF .
PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLETIN, 1982, 92 (01) :111-135
[10]   Behavior Change Techniques in Top-Ranked Mobile Apps for Physical Activity [J].
Conroy, David E. ;
Yang, Chih-Hsiang ;
Maher, Jaclyn P. .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, 2014, 46 (06) :649-652