Quality Of Apps Research Articles

Analysis of the Exploration of Security and Privacy for Healthcare Management Using Artificial Intelligence: Saudi Hospitals.

A large component of the Health Information Systems now comprises numerous independent apps created in the past that need to be merged to provide a more uniform service. In addition to affecting the Intelligent Health Board Functionality and dependability, the quality of these additional apps may also have an impact. A critical characteristic of the SHS's management and upkeep is the SHS's reliance on the real benefits provided to it. In speaking, an HMIS (Healthcare Management Information System) is a computer-based device that benefits medical practitioners to perform their duties more efficiently by coordinating all of their data. Even though these systems are widely used by most of the world, there is a significant need to comprehend these technologies and indeed the potential they provide. Healthcare data warehouses in Saudi Arabia have evolved through time, and this research examines how key service improvements in Saudi present varied viewpoints on how premium initiative help may be attained in health as well as how this could be done. When it comes to understanding how different types of medical professionals interact with healthcare systems throughout history, researchers developed stages of the maturity model.

Requirement Analysis of mHealth app for Pregnancy Care and a Framework Suggestion for Evaluating Pregnancy Mobile Apps

Background & Objective: There are a lot of apps for pregnancy care using mHealth technologies. However, it has not been studied which criteria in these apps are essential for increasing the quality of these mHealth programs in pregnant women. Thus this study aimed to review the desirable features of mobile-based pregnancy care applications and provide a model to evaluate existing applications.Materials & Methods: Features of a mobile-based pregnancy app were designed using a qualitative approach. In this research, an open questionnaire was developed. Obstetricians and gynecologists filled out this questionnaire. After thematic analysis of the questionnaires, the obtained items are embedded into a general framework for evaluation mHealth.Results: Fifteen gynecology and obstetrics experts participated in this study. Eight themes were obtained from 34 items mentioned by the experts. Finally, a specialized framework for evaluating mHealth apps for pregnancy care is proposed. Conclusion: To design mobile-based pregnancy care app and evaluate the existing apps in the field of pregnancy, the provided indicators can be used. This framework and other similar specialized frameworks could be developed to improve the quality of the mHealth apps.

MHealth and telemedicine utility in the monitoring of allergic diseases.

This literature review discusses the use of mHealth technologies and telemedicine for monitoring various allergic diseases both in everyday life and in the context of COVID-19. Telemedicine, whose popularity, and demand has skyrocketed during the pandemic, rely on mHealth technologies, video calls and websites as a resource-saving and safe way of consulting patients. The incorporation of new mHealth technologies into telemedicine practice may not only be relevant in the context of pandemic restrictions but can also be applied in everyday medical practice as an effective method of patient counseling. The mobile healthcare applications include a wide range of mobile apps for patients' education, monitoring, and disease management. However, applications for the people with food allergies lack relevant information about allergies and, like most other applications, are developed without the contribution of healthcare specialists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, low-risk food-allergic patients were able to rely on telemedicine services where they could get the help, they needed without increasing risk of contracting COVID-19 while saving time. Meanwhile, some applications for allergic rhinitis and asthma patients are showing practical benefits in clinical trials by allowing an efficient assessment of treatment regimens and efficacy. The use of digital symptom diaries further facilitates the implementation of real-life studies. However, for respiratory allergic diseases, the often insufficient quality of pollen prediction needs to be taken into account. Even though studies have shown that asthma is better controlled with mHealth technologies, the quality of mobile apps for asthma patients varies widely, as many products provide information that has not been scientifically proven. Inhaler sensors – have been shown to improve the course of asthma and its monitoring, while push notifications prompting people to take their medication double the likelihood of treatment adherence. Teledermatology has a high level of patient satisfaction – as it is perceived as a more time-saving method of consultation. However, the diagnostic accuracy of contact consultations remains higher. mHealth technologies provide a patient's health data from his/her daily life, which enables insights into behavioral patterns. This closer look at the daily routine can have a significant impact on developing individualized treatment and care guidelines.

Smartphone apps for tracking food consumption and recommendations: Evaluating artificial intelligence-based functionalities, features and quality of current apps

• A review of 80 apps for tracking food consumption and recommendations is presented. • A rating tool is devised to evaluate the AI-based functionalities and quality of apps. • Selected apps are evaluated using the tool, and their limitations are identified. • Design considerations of apps for future development are discussed. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the significant growth in the use of food consumption tracking and recommendation-related apps in the app stores have created a need for an evaluation system, as minimal information is available about the evidence-based quality and technological advancement of these apps. Electronic searches were conducted across three major app stores and the selected apps were evaluated by three independent raters. A total of 473 apps were found and 80 of them were selected for review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. An app rating tool is devised to evaluate the selected apps. Our rating tool assesses the apps essential features, AI based advanced functionalities and software quality characteristics required for food consumption tracking and recommendations, as well as their usefulness to general users. The rating tool’s internal consistency, as well as inter- and intra-rater reliability among raters, are also calculated. Users’ comments from the app stores are collected and evaluated to better understand their expectations and perspectives. Following an evaluation of the assessed applications, design considerations that emphasize automation-based approaches using artificial intelligence are proposed. According to our assessment, most mobile apps in the app stores do not satisfy the overall requirements for tracking food consumption and recommendations. “Foodvisor” is the only app that can automatically recognise food items, and compute the recommended volume and nutritional information of that food item. However, these features need to be improvised in the food consumption tracking and recommendation apps. This study provides both researchers and developers with an insight into current state-of-the-art apps and design guidelines with necessary information on essential features and software quality characteristics for designing and developing a better app.

Understanding users' perspectives on mobile apps for anxiety management.

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health problem. The potential of apps to improve mental health has led to an increase in the number of anxiety apps available. Even though anxiety apps hold the potential to enhance mental health care for individuals, there is relatively little knowledge concerning users’ perspectives. This mixed-methods study aims to understand the nature of user burden and engagement with mental health apps (MHapps) targeting anxiety management, in order to identify ways to improve the design of these apps. Users’ perspectives on these apps were gathered by analyzing 600 reviews from 5 apps on the app stores (Study 1), and conducting 15 interviews with app users (Study 2). The results shed light on several barriers to adoption and sustained use. Users appreciate apps that offer content variation, customizability, and good interface design, and often requested an enhanced, personalized experience to improve engagement. We propose addressing the specific app quality issues identified through human-centered design, more personalized content delivery, and by improving features for social and therapeutic support.

Modification and Validation of an mHealth App Quality Assessment Methodology for International Use: Cross-sectional and eDelphi Studies.

BackgroundOver 325,000 mobile health (mHealth) apps are available to download across various app stores. However, quality assurance in this field of medicine remains relatively undefined. Globally, around 84% of the population have access to mobile broadband networks. Given the potential for mHealth app use in health promotion and disease prevention, their role in patient care worldwide is ever apparent. Quality assurance regulations both nationally and internationally will take time to develop. Frameworks such as the Mobile App Rating Scale and Enlight Suite have demonstrated potential for use in the interim. However, these frameworks require adaptation to be suitable for international use.ObjectiveThis study aims to modify the Enlight Suite, a comprehensive app quality assessment methodology, to improve its applicability internationally and to assess the preliminary validity and reliability of this modified tool in practice.MethodsA two-round Delphi study involving 7 international mHealth experts with varied backgrounds in health, technology, and clinical psychology was conducted to modify the Enlight Suite for international use and to improve its content validity. The Modified Enlight Suite (MES) was then used by 800 health care professionals and health care students in Ireland to assess a COVID-19 tracker app in an online survey. The reliability of the MES was assessed using Cronbach alpha, while the construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsThe final version of the MES has 7 sections with 32 evaluating items. Of these items, 5 were novel and based on consensus for inclusion by Delphi panel members. The MES has satisfactory reliability with a Cronbach alpha score of .925. The subscales also demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. Similarly, the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a positive and significant factor loading for all 32 items in the MES with a modestly acceptable model fit, thus indicating the construct validity of the MES.ConclusionsThe Enlight Suite was modified to improve its international relevance to app quality assessment by introducing new items relating to cultural appropriateness, accessibility, and readability of mHealth app content. This study indicates both the reliability and validity of the MES for assessing the quality of mHealth apps in a high-income country, with further studies being planned to extrapolate these findings to low- and middle-income countries.

Sense and nonsense of patient apps in arthroplasty

Apps spielen bislang eine untergeordnete Rolle bei der Behandlung von Patienten in der Endoprothetik, stellen jedoch ein interessantes Werkzeug zur Optimierung der Versorgung dar und könnten integraler Bestandteil der Fast-Track-Chirurgie werden. Die Datenlage in der Literatur ist aktuell sehr begrenzt, es zeigen sich aber vielversprechende Ansätze für die Zukunft. Die Qualität der auf den verschiedenen Plattformen bereitgestellten Apps ist schwierig zu beurteilen. Das „DiGA-Verzeichnis“ beinhaltet rezeptierbare Apps, die Patienten sowohl im prä- als auch postoperativen Verlauf durch die Optimierung der Lebensgewohnheiten und Bereitstellung von Übungsmaterial unterstützen können. Kontakte der Patienten untereinander und zu medizinischen Experten scheinen sich positiv auf das Outcome auszuwirken. Auch bewerten die meisten Patienten die Unterstützung mittels App als positiv. Die Entwicklung der Anwendung sollte durch medizinische Experten, App-Entwickler und Patienten zusammen erfolgen.

Feasibility and Quality Validation of a Mobile Application for Enhancing Adherence to Opioids in Sickle Cell Disease.

Prescription opioid nonadherence, specifically opioid misuse, has contributed to the opioid epidemic and opioid-related mortality in the US. Popular methods to measure and control opioid adherence have limitations, but mobile health, specifically smartphone applications, offers a potentially useful technology for this purpose. We developed, tested, and validated the OpPill application using the Mobile Applications Rating Scale (MARS), a validated tool for assessing the quality of mobile health apps. The MARS contains four scales (range of each scale = 0–4) that rate Engagement, Functionality, Aesthetics, and Information Quality. It also assesses subjective quality, relevance, and overall application impact. Our application was built to be a mobile monitoring and reporting system intended to enhance opioid adherence by collecting data and providing systematic feedback on pain and opioid use. Patients (n = 28) all had one of various SCD genotypes, were ages 19 to 59 years (mean 36.56), 53.6% were female, and 39.3% had completed some college. Patients rated the OpPill application highly on all four scales: Engagement, 3.93 ± 0.73; Functionality, 4.54 ± 0.66; Aesthetics, 3.92 ± 0.81; Information, 3.91 ± 0.87. The majority of patients found the application to be relevant for their care. A total of 96% reported the information within the app was complete, while 4% estimated the information to be minimal or overwhelming. Patients (91.7%) overwhelmingly reported that the quality of information as it pertained to SCD patients was relevant; only 8.3% found the application to be poorly relevant to SCD. Similarly, patients (91.7%) overwhelmingly rated both the application’s performance and ease of use positively. The large majority of participants (85.7%) found the application to be interesting to use, while 74% found it entertaining. All users found the application’s navigation to be logical and accurate with consistent and intuitive gestural design. We conclude that the OpPill application, specifically targeted to monitor opioid use and pain and opioid behavior in patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, was feasible and rated by SCD patients as easy-to-use using a validated rating tool.

Intervention Mapping of a Gamified Therapy Prescription App for Children With Disabilities: User-Centered Design Approach

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) apps for children are increasing in availability and scope. Therapy (physiotherapy, speech pathology, and occupational therapy) prescription apps to improve home or school program adherence work best when developed to be highly engaging for children and when they incorporate behavior change techniques (BCTs) within their design.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the development of a user-centered therapy prescription app for children (aged 6-12 years) with neurodevelopmental disabilities (eg, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability) incorporating intervention mapping (IM) and gamified design.MethodsWe used an iterative, user-centered app development model incorporating the first 3 steps of IM. We conducted a needs analysis with user feedback from our previous mHealth app study, a literature review, and a market audit. Change objectives were then specified in alignment with the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness identified in self-determination theory. From these objectives, we then selected BCTs, stipulating parameters for effectiveness and how each BCT would be operationalized. A gamification design was planned and implemented focusing on maximizing engagement in children. In total, 2 rounds of consultations with parents, teachers, and therapists and 1 round of prototype app testing with children were conducted to inform app development, with a final iteration developed for further testing.ResultsThe IM process resulted in the specification of app elements, self-determination theory–informed BCTs, that were embedded into the app design. The gamification design yielded the selection of a digital pet avatar with a fantasy anime visual theme and multiple layers of incentives earned by completing prescribed therapy activities. Consultation groups with professionals working with children with disabilities (4 therapists and 3 teachers) and parents of children with disabilities (n=3) provided insights into the motivation of children and the pragmatics of implementing app-delivered therapy programs that informed the app development. User testing with children with disabilities (n=4) highlighted their enthusiasm for the app and the need for support in the initial phase of learning the app. App quality testing (Mobile Application Rating Scale-user version) with the children yielded means (out of 5) of 4.5 (SD 0.8) for engagement, 3.3 (SD 1.6) for function, 3.3 (SD 1.7) for aesthetics, and 4.3 (SD 1.1) for subjective quality.ConclusionsmHealth apps designed for children can be greatly enhanced with a systematic yet flexible development process considering the specific contextual needs of the children with user-centered design, addressing the need for behavior change using the IM process, and maximizing engagement with gamification and strong visual design.

FHH Quick App Review: How Can a Quality Review Process Assist Primary Care Providers in Choosing a Family Health History App for Patient Care?

Family health history (FHH) is a data type serving risk assessment, diagnosis, research, and preventive health. Despite technological leaps in genomic variant detection, FHH remains the most accessible, least expensive, and most practical assessment tool for assessing risks attributable to genetic inheritance. The purpose of this manuscript is to outline a process to assist primary care professionals in choosing FHH digital tools for patient care based on the new ISO/TS 82304-2 Technical Specification (TS), which is a recently developed method to determine eHealth app quality. With a focus on eHealth in primary care, we applied the quality label concept to FHH, and how a primary care physician can quickly review the quality and reliability of an FHH app. Based on our review of the ISO TS’s 81 questions, we compiled a list of 25 questions that are recommended to be more succinct as an initial review. We call this process the FHH Quick App Review. Our ‘informative-only’ 25 questions do not produce a quality score, but a guide to complete an initial review of FHH apps. Most of the questions are straight from the ISO TS, some are modified or de novo. We believe the 25 questions are not only relevant to FHH app reviews but could also serve to aid app development and clinical implementation.

Developing an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data-based mobile phone app to provide adolescents with sexual reproductive health information: a human-centered design approach

BackgroundAdolescent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections continue to impact 15 – 19-year-olds across the globe. The lack of sexual reproductive health information (SRH) in resource-limited settings due to cultural and societal attitudes towards adolescent SRH could be contributing to the negative outcomes. Innovative approaches, including mobile phone technologies, are needed to address the need for reliable adolescent SRH information.ObjectiveThe study aimed to co-design a Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) based mobile app prototype to provide confidential adolescent SRH information on-demand and evaluate the mobile app’s usability and user experience.MethodsA human-centered design methodology was applied. This practice framework allowed the perspectives and feedback of adolescent users to be included in the iterative design process. To participate, an adolescent must have been 15 to 19 years old, resided in Kibra and would be able to access a mobile phone. Adolescents were enrolled for the alpha and field testing of the app prototype at different time-points. The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) a multidimensional mobile phone evaluation tool was used to access the functionality, engagement, aesthetics and quality of information in the app. Responses from the MARS were reported as mean scores for each category and a mean of the aggregate scores making the app’s quality score. The MARS data was also evaluated as categorical data, A Chi square test of independence was carried out to show significance of any observed differences using cumulative and inverse cumulative distribution functions.ResultsDuring the usability test, 62/109 (54.9%) of the adolescents that were followed-up had used the app at least once, 30/62 (48.4%) of these were male participants and 32/62 (51.6%) female. On engagement, the app had a mean score of 4.3/5 (SD 0.44), 4.6/5 (SD 0.38) on functionality, 4.3/5 (SD 0.57) on aesthetics and 4.4/5 (SD 0.60) on the quality of information. The overall app quality mean score was 4.4/5 (SD 0.31). The app was described as ‘very interesting’ to use by 44/62 (70.9%) of the participants, 20/44 males and 24/44 females. The content was deemed to be either ‘perfectly’ or ‘well targeted’ on sexual reproductive health by 60/62 (96.7%) adolescents, and the app was rated ‘best app’ by 45/62 (72.6%) adolescents, 27/45 females and 18/45 males, with a p-value = 0.011.ConclusionsAdolescents need on-demand, accurate and trusted SRH information. A mobile phone app is a feasible and acceptable way to deliver adolescent SRH information in resource-limited settings. The USSD mobile phone technology shows promise in the delivery of much needed adolescent SRH information on-demand..

Mobile Apps for People With Rare Diseases: Review and Quality Assessment Using Mobile App Rating Scale.

BackgroundMobile apps are becoming increasingly popular, with 5.70 million apps available in early 2021. Smartphones can provide portable and convenient access to health apps. Here, we consider apps for people with one of the estimated 7000 rare conditions, which are defined as having an incidence of <1 in 2000. The needs of people with rare conditions are known to be different from those of people with more common conditions. The former may be socially isolated (not knowing anyone else who has the condition) and may not be able to find reliable information about the disorder.ObjectiveThe aim of this review is to search for apps developed specifically for people diagnosed with a rare disease and to assess them for quality using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). We examine features that address 6 identified needs of people with a rare disorder and make recommendations for future developers.MethodsGoogle Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS) were searched for relevant health-related apps specifically for rare diseases. The search included the names of 10 rare disease groups. App quality was determined using MARS, assessing app engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information.ResultsWe found 29 relevant apps (from a total of 2272) addressing 14 rare diseases or disease groups. The most common rare conditions addressed were cystic fibrosis (n=6), hemophilia (n=5), and thalassemia (n=5). The most common app features were web-based information and symptom trackers. The mean MARS score was 3.44 (SD 0.84). Lowest scores were for engagement.ConclusionsMost apps provided factual and visual information, providing tools for self-monitoring and resources to help improve interactions during health consultations. App origin and quality varied greatly. Developers are recommended to consider ways to make appropriate apps more easily identifiable to consumers, to always include high-quality information, improve engagement, provide qualitative evaluations of the app, and include consumers and clinicians in the design.

Factors influencing consumer use of a sport-branded app: the technology acceptance model integrating app quality and perceived enjoyment

PurposeThe current study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) and information system success model (ISSM) to the context of branded sport applications. Specifically, the study examined the influences of app system success dimensions and TAM determinants on branded sport app usage intention. Moreover, the current study examined the gender differences regarding the relative importance of the drivers and predictors of usage intention.Design/methodology/approachData collection (n = 256) was conducted using convenience sampling in South Korea. The data were primarily analyzed via partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), multi-group analysis and importance–performance map analysis (IPMA) using SmartPLS 3.0.FindingsApp users who viewed branded sport apps as having a higher level of system and information quality were likely to have stronger perceptions of enjoyment, usefulness, and ease of use. Among the TAM determinants, perceived enjoyment most significantly influenced their usage intention, followed by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Multigroup analysis revealed that some relationships between app system success dimensions and TAM determinants were significantly different by gender. In addition, IPMA indicated that perceived enjoyment and system quality of branded sport apps were relatively more important than the other predictors.Originality/valueThe current study contributes to the literature by incorporating both TAM and ISSM and extending the TAM with the perceived enjoyment construct to examine the key determinants of usage intention in the context of branded sport apps.

Quality Assessment of Digital Health Applications: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

BackgroundAll over the world, development and usage of mobile health (mHealth) apps is increasing. While apps offer numerous opportunities to improve health care, there are associated problems that differ significantly from those of traditional health care services. Further investigations on the quality of mHealth apps are needed to address these problems.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify and map research on quality assessment and quality assurance of mHealth apps and their transferability to continuous quality assurance of mHealth apps.MethodsThe scoping review will follow published methodological frameworks for scoping studies as well as Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews criteria. Electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO), reference lists of relevant articles, and websites of relevant institutions will be searched. Two reviewers will independently assess eligibility of articles. Therefore, a 2-stage (title and abstract, followed by full text) screening process was conducted. Quality management systems and quality assessment tools will be analyzed and included in our review. Particular focus is placed on quality dimensions.ResultsThis scoping review provides an overview of the available evidence and identifies research gaps regarding continuous quality assessment of mHealth apps. Thereby, relevant quality dimensions and criteria can be identified and their eligibility and relevance for the development of a continuous quality assurance system of mHealth apps can be determined. Our results are planned to be submitted to an indexed, peer-reviewed journal in the second half of 2022.ConclusionsThis is the first review in the context of continuous quality assurance of mHealth apps. Our results will be used within the research “Continuous quality assurance of Digital Health Applications” (“QuaSiApps”) project funded by the German Federal Joint Committee.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/36974

Assessing a New Prescreening Score for the Simplified Evaluation of the Clinical Quality and Relevance of eHealth Apps: Instrument Validation Study.

BackgroundIn 2020, more than 250 eHealth solutions were added to app stores each day, or 90,000 in the year; however, the vast majority of these solutions have not undergone clinical validation, their quality is unknown, and the user does not know if they are effective and safe. We sought to develop a simple prescreening scoring method that would assess the quality and clinical relevance of each app. We designed this tool with 3 health care stakeholder groups in mind: eHealth solution designers seeking to evaluate a potential competitor or their own tool, investors considering a fundraising candidate, and a hospital clinician or IT department wishing to evaluate a current or potential eHealth solution.ObjectiveWe built and tested a novel prescreening scoring tool (the Medical Digital Solution scoring tool). The tool, which consists of 26 questions that enable the quick assessment and comparison of the clinical relevance and quality of eHealth apps, was tested on 68 eHealth solutions.MethodsThe Medical Digital Solution scoring tool is based on the 2021 evaluation criteria of the French National Health Authority, the 2022 European Society of Medical Oncology recommendations, and other provided scores. We built the scoring tool with patient association and eHealth experts and submitted it to eHealth app creators, who evaluated their apps via the web-based form in January 2022. After completing the evaluation criteria, their apps obtained an overall score and 4 categories of subscores. These criteria evaluated the type of solution and domain, the solution’s targeted population size, the level of clinical assessment, and information about the provider.ResultsIn total, 68 eHealth solutions were evaluated with the scoring tool. Oncology apps (22%, 20/90) and general health solutions (23%, 21/90) were the most represented. Of the 68 apps, 32 (47%) were involved in remote monitoring by health professionals. Regarding clinical outcomes, 5% (9/169) of the apps assessed overall survival. Randomized studies had been conducted for 21% (23/110) of the apps to assess their benefit. Of the 68 providers, 38 (56%) declared the objective of obtaining reimbursement, and 7 (18%) out of the 38 solutions seeking reimbursement were assessed as having a high probability of reimbursement. The median global score was 11.2 (range 4.7-17.4) out of 20 and the distribution of the scores followed a normal distribution pattern (Shapiro-Wilk test: P=.33).ConclusionsThis multidomain prescreening scoring tool is simple, fast, and can be deployed on a large scale to initiate an assessment of the clinical relevance and quality of a clinical eHealth app. This simple tool can help a decision-maker determine which aspects of the app require further analysis and improvement.

Digital Health Solutions for Chronic Illnesses: A Systematic Review of Mobile Health Apps and Quality Analysis with Mobile App Rating Scale

Currently, more than half of the adults worldwide have at least one chronic condition; however, poor medication adherence and self-management are observed. Tools, such as mHealth apps, may play a crucial role for millions of people in increasing the patients’ involvement in the treatment process. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics and quality of the existing mHealth apps for patients with various chronic conditions. The study was conducted from February 1 to March 31, 2022. The mHealth applications’ search was performed on the iOS platform, and 29 apps were included in the final analysis. The quality of apps was evaluated using Mobile App Rating Scale. The majority of the apps had symptom and medication tracking functionality. The mean score of apps’ overall quality was 3.45 (SD = 0.61) out of five, ranging from 2.04 to 4.50. The highest-rated category was the functionality of the app—3.75 (0.61); followed by aesthetics—3.67 (0.62); subjective quality—3.47 (0.88); engagement—3.33 (0.78); and information—3.04 (0.61). The study revealed that only a few high-quality apps for chronic condition management exist, and there is still some space for improvements.

Remotely Conducted App-Based Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Risk Awareness and Prevention: Single-Group Feasibility Trial.

BackgroundCardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide. An unhealthy lifestyle greatly contributes to someone’s risk of developing these conditions. Mobile health is an emerging technology that can help deliver health promotion interventions to the population, for example, in the form of health apps.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the feasibility of an app-based intervention for cardiovascular and diabetes risk awareness and prevention by measuring nonusage, dropout, adherence to app use, and usability of the app over 3 months.MethodsParticipants were eligible if they were aged 45 years or older, resided in Australia, were free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, were fluent in English, and owned a smartphone. In the beginning, participants received an email with instructions on how to install the app and a user guide. After 3 months, they received an email with an invitation to an end-of-study survey. The survey included questions about general smartphone use and the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale. We analyzed app-generated and survey data by using descriptive and inferential statistics as well as thematic analysis for open-text comments.ResultsRecruitment took place between September and October 2021. Of the 46 participants who consented to the study, 20 (44%) never used the app and 15 (33%) dropped out. The median age of the app users at baseline was 62 (IQR 56-67) years. Adherence to app use, that is, using the app at least once a week over 3 months, was 17% (8/46) of the total sample and 31% (8/26) of all app users. The mean app quality rating on the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale was 3.5 (SD 0.6) of 5 points. The app scored the highest for the information section and the lowest for the engagement section of the scale.ConclusionsNonusage and dropouts were too high, and the adherence was too low to consider the intervention in its current form feasible. Potential barriers that we identified include the research team not actively engaging with participants early in the study to verify that all participants could install the app, the intervention did not involve direct contact with health care professionals, and the app did not have enough interactive features.

O25 Evaluation of Commercially Available Infant Feeding Mobile Applications Using the App Quality Evaluation Tool

O25 Evaluation of Commercially Available Infant Feeding Mobile Applications Using the App Quality Evaluation Tool

Antecedents of User Satisfaction and Continuance Usage of Mobile Health Applications: A Study on MySejahtera Apps in Malaysia

Given the focus on the use of mobile health applications (m-health apps) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of this study is to determine the users’ satisfaction and perceptions of m-health apps usage. The conceptual framework for this study was developed using the technology acceptance model, theory of reasoned action, and DeLone McLean model. This study had 215 participants, and the data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling. The results show that the highest user satisfaction was on the COVID-19 vaccination function while the lowest satisfaction was on the helpdesk function. Furthermore, the quality and performance of the m-health apps affected users’ satisfaction and subsequently affected the continuance usage of the m-health apps. The findings will benefit the m-health apps developers in increasing the apps’ functionality. As a result, the findings will help the government improves the function, information, performance, security, design, and quality of m-health apps.

배달 앱 서비스 품질이 지속이용의도에 미치는 영향 - 리뷰를 중심으로

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads worldwide, non-face-to-face services have also increased in the food and beverage services market. As the spread of mobile devices became common and services using non-face-to-face services and mobile apps emerged as a new business model, delivery apps changed consumers’ lifestyles. Consumers who use the mobile app provide immediate feedback through the review process to improve service quality and influence the decision-making of potential consumers. This study aimed to understand the service quality of companies through reviews that directly reflected the perceptions of consumers and to analyze how this affects continuous usage intention.BR As a result of the empirical analysis of this study, first of all, tangibility and reliability among service quality of delivery app had positive effects on continuous usage intention, but guarantee, empathy, and responsiveness had negative effects. Also, as a result of analyzing the moderating effect of the number of reviews on the effect of service quality on the intention to continue using, it was found that there was a moderating effect on the number of reviews in empathy and responsiveness. In this study, the service quality of delivery apps was differentiated from existing service quality studies by using text mining techniques, and it was suggested that reviews are important for delivery apps.