Analysis of Web and Mobile Apps for Monitoring of Childhood Physical Activity

Abstract

Scientific guidelines recommend a minimum of 60 minutes daily moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity for children for disease prevention and healthy living. Innovation in e-technology has pervaded daily life and plays a significant role in educating the next generation. This mode of information has the potential to play a vital role in health education and disease prevention. The purpose of this study is to review children’s mobile or web-based applications (apps) pertaining to physical activity and exercise in terms of the scientific guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention and as quality educational tools. From the perspective of disease prevention, the electronic applications available commercially to children for physical activity and exercise were examined. A mixed retrospective observational study of children’s physical activity apps for Apple/Android devices, where apps were assessed for presence or absence of scientific guideline indicators, monitoring capability and educational quality indicators. Suitable apps were downloaded from iTunes, Google Play and Microsoft stores and assessed based on scientific guideline variables and British Educational and Communications Technology Agency (BECTA) quality principles. The data was analysed using statistics to evaluate adherence to these quality standards. Based on the findings, recommendations for the future development of new web-based technologies for health were suggested. A quality score was calculated based on indicators from the guidelines on physical activity, monitoring capability and educational criteria (maximum score 20). This quality score showed a mean 12, median 12, and standard deviation of 3.4. In conclusion, the majority of children’s physical activity apps do not adhere to the guidelines and poorly monitor physical activity. They are of reasonably adequate quality as educational tools.