Background Mobile health apps related to maternal and infant health (MIH) are prevalent and frequently used. Some of these apps are extremely popular and have been downloaded over 5 million times. However, the understanding of user behavior and user adoption of these apps based on consumer preferences for different app features and categories is limited. Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between MIH app characteristics and users’ perceived satisfaction and intent to use. Methods The associations between app characteristics, ratings, and downloads were assessed in a sample of MIH apps designed to provide health education or decision-making support to pregnant women or parents and caregivers of infants. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the relationship between app characteristics and user ratings, and ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between app characteristics and user downloads. Results The analyses of user ratings and downloads included 421 and 213 apps, respectively. The average user rating was 3.79 out of 5. Compared with the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store was associated with high user ratings (beta=.33; P=.005). Apps with higher standardized user ratings (beta=.80; P<.001), in-app purchases (beta=1.12; P=.002), and in-app advertisements (beta=.64; P=.02) were more frequently downloaded. Having a health care organization developer as part of the development team was neither associated with user ratings (beta=−.20; P=.06) nor downloads (beta=−.14; P=.63). Conclusions A majority of MIH apps are developed by non–health care organizations, which could raise concern about the accuracy and trustworthiness of in-app information. These findings could benefit app developers in designing better apps and could help inform marketing and development strategies. Further work is needed to evaluate the clinical accuracy of information provided within the apps.

The findings highlight the need for intensifying intervention strategies to reduce the risk of new primary MMs in this group. Future research should increase in rigor and include more diverse populations and regions.

Based on available evidence, a need exists to develop individual and worksite programs and interventions to increase skin cancer prevention behaviors among this occupational group. This data could serve as a baseline to monitor and evaluate the efficacy of these interventions.

Background Despite the popularity of maternal and infant health mobile apps, ongoing consumer engagement and sustained app use remain barriers. Few studies have examined user experiences or perceived benefits of maternal and infant health app use from consumer perspectives. Objective This study aims to assess users’ self-reported experiences with maternal and infant health apps, perceived benefits, and general feedback by analyzing publicly available user reviews on two popular app stores—Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Methods We conducted a qualitative assessment of publicly available user reviews (N=2422) sampled from 75 maternal and infant health apps designed to provide health education or decision-making support to pregnant women or parents and caregivers of infants. The reviews were coded and analyzed using a general inductive qualitative content analysis approach. Results The three major themes included the following: app functionality, where users discussed app features and functions; technical aspects, where users talked about technology-based aspects of an app; and app content, where users specifically focused on the app content and the information it provides. The six minor themes included the following: patterns of use, where users highlighted the frequency and type of use; social support, where users talked about receiving social support from friends, family and community of other users; app cost, where users talked about the cost of an app within the context of being cost-effective or a potential waste of money; app comparisons, where users compared one app with others available in app stores; assistance in health care, where users specifically highlighted the role of an app in offering clinical assistance; and customer care support, where users specifically talked about their interaction with the app customer care support team. Conclusions Users generally tend to value apps that are of low cost and preferably free, with high-quality content, superior features, enhanced technical aspects, and user-friendly interfaces. Users also find app developer responsiveness to be integral, as it offers them an opportunity to engage in the app development and delivery process. These findings may be beneficial for app developers in designing better apps, as no best practice guidelines currently exist for the app environment.

Follow-up studies should focus on how supplementation and medication changes may or may not alter BMD. Persons with IDD are experiencing longer life expectancies, and therefore, studies ascertaining information on diseases associated with this aging population are warranted.

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Introduction: Recently, with the surge in the availability of relevant data in various industries, the use of Information Fusion technique for data analysis is increasing. This method has several advantages, such as increased accuracy, and the use of meaningful information. In addition, there are certain challenges, including the impact of data type and analytical method on results. The goal of this study is to propose a framework for introducing the advantages and classifying the challenges of this technique. Method: We conducted a review of articles published between January 1960 and December 2017 for the design stage and from January 2018 to December 2018 for the evaluation stage. Articles were identified from various databases such as Science Direct, IEEE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using the keywords decision fusion, information fusion, and symbolic fusion. We report the advantages and challenges of the methodologies described in these articles. Analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 132 articles were identified in the design stage and 90 articles were identified in the evaluation stage. Categories within the framework for challenges include “hardware and software requirements for processing and maintaining the process”, “data” and “data analysis method”. The categories for advantages include “value modeling”, “preferable management of uncertainty and variability”, “excellent decision making”, “comprehensive interpretation and representation”, “data management” and “simplicity of infrastructure”. Our results indicate using these two frameworks with 95% Confidence interval. Conclusion: An overall understanding of the advantages and challenges of the information fusion technique could act as a guide for the researcher for the correct usage of this technique.

Maternal and infant health (MIH) mobile applications (apps) are increasingly popular and frequently used for health education and decision making. Interventions grounded in theory-based behavior change techniques (BCTs) are shown to be effective in promoting healthy behavior changes. MIH apps have the potential to be useful tools, yet the extent to which they incorporate BCTs is still unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the presence of BCTs in popular MIH apps available in the Apple App and Google Play stores. Twenty-nine popular MIH apps were coded for the presence of 16 BCTs using the mHealth app taxonomy. Popular MIH apps whose purpose was to provide health education or decision-making support to pregnant women or parents/caregivers of infants were included in the final sample. On an average, the reviewed apps included seven BCTs (range 2–16). Techniques such as personalization, review of general or specific goals, macro tailoring, self-monitoring of goals, and health behavior linkages were most frequently present. No differences in the presence of BCTs between paid and free apps were observed. Popular MIH apps typically included only a minority of BCTs found to be useful for health promotion. However, apps developed by healthcare developers incorporated a higher number of BCTs within the app content. Therefore, app developers and policymakers may consider strategies to increase health expert involvement in app design and content delivery.