There’s an App for That: Content Analysis of Paid Health and Fitness Apps

West, Joshua H.; Hall, P. Cougar; Hanson, Carl L.; Barnes, Michael; Giraud‐Carrier, Christophe; Barrett, James H.

doi:10.2196/jmir.1977

Cited by 288 publications

(244 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The large number of commercially available Arabic weight-loss apps highlights the need for research and development of evidence-based apps [18] that will promote health among Arab users. As was found in English apps [9,10,19], it is clear that current Arabic weight-loss apps have low levels of adherence to the 13 evidenceinformed practices for weight control. Most weight management guidelines [11-13] take a multicomponent approach that includes diet, exercise, and behavior modification.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Do Arabic weight-loss apps adhere to evidence-informed practices?

Alnasser

Amalraj

Sathiaseelan

et al. 2015

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

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Mobile technology has been used successfully for promoting health and weight loss and for treating obesity. There is a high prevalence of smartphone and tablet users among the Saudi population. This study aimed to identify whether current Arabic weight-loss apps had features that adhered to evidence-informed practices. The six most relevant app stores were systematically searched using the Arabic words for weight and diet (n=298). All apps that met the inclusion criteria (n=65) were downloaded and examined for adherence to 13 evidence-informed practices. Latent class analysis identified two subgroups of apps: self-monitoring (15 % of apps) and advice-giving apps (85 %). The median number of evidence-informed practices was 1 (1, 2), with no apps having more than six and only nine apps including four to six. Meal planning was the most common feature (38 % of apps). These findings identify serious weaknesses in the currently available Arabic weight-loss apps. Thus, existing and future apps should include more features based on the best available evidence in the context of Arab culture.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Do Arabic weight-loss apps adhere to evidence-informed practices?

Alnasser

Amalraj

Sathiaseelan

et al. 2015

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

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“…Despite vast interest in cancer eHealth and the applied nature of this field, our findings suggest that few studies used innovative designs to address key translation issues or reported transparently on issues central to dissemination. Given the surge of EHIs, health technology, and the lack of evidence-based interventions readily available to consumers [29,30], there is a need for use of alternative pragmatic study designs, transparent reporting of external validity components to produce more rapid and generalizable results, and comparison of intervention effects assessed along the pragmatic-explanatory continuum by both PRECIS domains and practical feasibility criteria. We encourage investigators to utilize PRECIS and practical feasibility criteria used in this review to design, test, and evaluate EHIs in the future.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of eHealth cancer prevention and control interventions: new technology, same methods and designs?

Sánchez

Rabin

Gaglio

et al. 2013

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

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There has been a recent surge of eHealth programs in cancer and other content areas, but few reviews have focused on the methodologies and designs employed in these studies. We conducted a systematic review of studies on eHealth interventions on cancer prevention and control published between 2001 and 2010 applying the Pragmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS) criteria and external validity components from the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. We identified 113 studies that focused on cancer prevention and control of eHealth interventions. Most studies fell midway along the explanatory/ pragmatic trial continuum, but few reported on various practical feasibility criteria for translation. Despite vast interest in cancer eHealth and the applied nature of this field, few studies considered key external validity issues. There is a need for use of alternative pragmatic study designs and transparent reporting of external validity components to produce more rapid and generalizable results.Keywords eHealth, Pragmatic trials, Systematic review, Design, PRECIS, External validity, RE-AIM framework BACKGROUND Reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality are partly attributable to interventions addressing modifiable risk factors and screening behaviors [1]. However, such advancements in cancer outcomes are not observed among all populations, specifically those with limited access to cancer care and efficacious behavior interventions [2,3]. The recent surge of eHealth interventions (EHIs) presents unique opportunities to enhance cancer prevention and control by increasing intervention reach, adapting to various contextual conditions, being readily available where users live, work, and play, and tailoring information to patients' needs [4][5][6].eHealth research is a relatively young field that is rapidly growing. EHIs have been found to be effective in promoting change in behaviors, knowledge, self-

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“…However, it was helpful to utilize a theory to understand app usage behaviors in the present study. Furthermore, health practitioners should be cognizant of the limitations of apps when making suggestions to clients and patients (31). A realistic perspective on the restricted ability of fitness technology can prevent disappointment and wasted time and money in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fitness of apps: a theory-based examination of mobile fitness app usage over 5 months

Herrmann

Kim

2017

mHealth

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Background: There are thousands of fitness-related smartphone applications ("apps") available for free and purchase, but there is uncertainty if these apps help individuals achieve and maintain personal fitness.Technology usage attrition is also a concern among research studies on health technologies.Methods: Usage of three fitness apps was examined over 5 months to assess adherence and effectiveness.Initially, 64 participants downloaded three free apps available on Android and iOS and 47 remained in the study until posttest. With a one group pre-posttest design and checkpoints at months 1, 3, and 5, exercise and exercise with fitness apps were examined in the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) using a validated survey. Apps were selected based on their function from the Functional Triad. Perceived fitness was also measured. T-tests, sign tests, Fisher's exact tests, and linear and logistic regression were used to compare pre to posttests and users to non-users of the apps.Results: Forty-seven participants completed both pre and posttests. Individual item scores indicated no significant change pre to posttest except for decreases observed in usefulness of using apps for exercise (attitude) (−0.78, P<0.01), peer influence on exercise (subjective norm) (−0.51, P<0.05), peer influence on exercise with apps (subjective norm) (−1.02, P<0.01), perceived difficulties in exercising with apps (perceived behavioral control) (−1.29, P<0.001), and the expected frequency of exercise with apps over the next 2 weeks (behavioral intention) (P<0.0001 in a sign test). Subscale total scores indicated significant decreases in subjective norm regarding exercise (−0.72, P<0.05), subjective norm regarding exercise with apps (−1.72, P<0.01), and perceived behavioral control over exercising with apps (−2.56, P<0.01) between pre and posttest.When comparing app users (n=32) to non-users (n=15), there was only a significant difference in subscale total scores at posttest for attitude toward exercising using apps, which was significantly more favorable among users than non-users (32.3 vs. 27.6, P<0.05). Fitness perception did not change over 5 months regarding cardiovascular fitness, strength, endurance, flexibility, or body composition. Technology usage attrition was desirable at 31.9%.Conclusions: App usage and effectiveness appears to have a connection to usefulness (attitude) and to perceived difficulties of exercising using apps (perceived behavioral control). Exercise and exercise using apps are not influenced by peer influence (subjective norm). Intention to exercise using these particular apps decreased (behavioral intention). Those who utilized the apps were more likely to have a positive attitude about the apps. Usefulness and perceived difficulties in particular should be considered with future app development.App usefulness and ease of use may be facilitated by using health behavior theories to guide development.

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There’s an App for That: Content Analysis of Paid Health and Fitness Apps

Cited by 288 publications

References 21 publications

Do Arabic weight-loss apps adhere to evidence-informed practices?

Do Arabic weight-loss apps adhere to evidence-informed practices?

A systematic review of eHealth cancer prevention and control interventions: new technology, same methods and designs?

The fitness of apps: a theory-based examination of mobile fitness app usage over 5 months

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