Use of gamification strategies and tactics in mobile applications for smoking cessation: a review of the UK mobile app market

Rajani, Nikita B; Weth, Dominik; Mastellos, Nikolaos; Filippidis, Filippos

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027883

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Beyond this minimum, other techniques for patient engagement could include the use of challenges and rewards to complete self-assessments. Such “gamification” in healthcare is more typically associated with interventions like exercise [ 64 ], smoking cessation [ 65 ], and weight loss [ 66 ] than self-assessments and may be more difficult to implement for people with brain injury. However, Worthen-Chaudhari et al’s study, included in this review, demonstrates that gamification is potentially feasible in terms of compliance and effective for improving symptom management, at least for youth concussion [ 36 ].…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of mHealth Technology for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review

Juengst

Terhorst

Nabasny

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The purpose of our scoping review was to describe the current use of mHealth technology for long-term assessment of patient-reported outcomes in community-dwelling individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a scoping review of literature meeting these criteria: (1) civilians or military veterans, all ages; (2) self-reported or caregiver-reported outcomes assessed via mobile device in the community (not exclusively clinic/hospital); (3) published in English; (4) published in 2015–2019. We searched Ovid MEDLINE(R) < 1946 to 16 August 2019, MEDLINE InProcess, EPub, Embase, and PsycINFO databases for articles. Thirteen manuscripts representing 12 distinct studies were organized by type of ABI [traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke] to extract outcomes, mHealth technology used, design, and inclusion of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Outcomes included post-concussive, depressive, and affective symptoms, fatigue, daily activities, stroke risk factors, and cognitive exertion. Overall, collecting patient-reported outcomes via mHealth was feasible and acceptable in the chronic ABI population. Studies consistently showed advantage for using EMA despite variability in EMA timing/schedules. To ensure best clinical measurement, research on post-ABI outcomes should consider EMA designs (versus single time-point assessments) that provide the best timing schedules for their respective aims and outcomes and that leverage mHealth for data collection.

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Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of mHealth Technology for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review

Juengst

Terhorst

Nabasny

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar to previous mobile app studies, we considered a dropout rate of approximately 20% [ 30 - 32 ], which resulted in the recruitment of 140 participants. The sample size calculation also assumes that both apps are similar based on a prior mobile app review [ 33 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mobile apps for the study were selected based on a mobile app review that found these 2 apps to have a high embedment of gamification features and a high adherence to smoking cessation guidelines in the United Kingdom [ 33 , 34 ]. Screenshots of both apps are shown in Multimedia Appendix 2 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Gamification on the Self-Efficacy and Motivation to Quit of Smokers: Observational Study of Two Gamified Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps

Rajani¹,

Mastellos²,

Filippidis³

2021

JMIR Serious Games

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Background The proportion of smokers making quit attempts and the proportion of smokers successfully quitting have been decreasing over the past few years. Previous studies have shown that smokers with high self-efficacy and motivation to quit have an increased likelihood of quitting and staying quit. Consequently, further research on strategies that can improve the self-efficacy and motivation of smokers seeking to quit could lead to substantially higher cessation rates. Some studies have found that gamification can positively impact the cognitive components of behavioral change, including self-efficacy and motivation. However, the impact of gamification in the context of smoking cessation and mobile health has been sparsely investigated. Objective This study aims to examine the association between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and frequency of use of gamification features embedded in smoking cessation apps on self-efficacy and motivation to quit smoking. Methods Participants were assigned to use 1 of the 2 mobile apps for a duration of 4 weeks. App-based questionnaires were provided to participants before app use and 2 weeks and 4 weeks after they started using the app. Gamification was quantitatively operationalized based on the Cugelman gamification framework and concepts from the technology acceptance model. The mean values of perceived frequency, ease of use, and usefulness of gamification features were calculated at midstudy and end-study. Two linear regression models were used to investigate the impact of gamification on self-efficacy and motivation to quit. Results A total of 116 participants completed the study. The mean self-efficacy increased from 37.38 (SD 13.3) to 42.47 (SD 11.5) points and motivation to quit increased from 5.94 (SD 1.4) to 6.32 (SD 1.7) points after app use. Goal setting was perceived to be the most useful gamification feature, whereas sharing was perceived to be the least useful. Participants self-reported that they used the progress dashboards the most often, whereas they used the sharing feature the least often. The average perceived frequency of gamification features was statistically significantly associated with change in self-efficacy ( β =3.35; 95% CI 0.31-6.40) and change in motivation to quit ( β =.54; 95% CI 0.15-0.94) between baseline and end-study. Conclusions Gamification embedded in mobile apps can have positive effects on self-efficacy and motivation to quit smoking. The findings of this study can provide important insights for tobacco control policy makers, mobile app developers, and smokers seeking to quit.

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“…The content and evidence base of vaping-related apps is currently unknown, though previous reviews and content analyses have examined apps related to smoking cessation, cannabis, alcohol [ 49 ], and other substance use [ 50 ]. Smoking cessation apps are abundant, though few have been demonstrated to be evidence-based [ 51 - 55 ], and many have limitations with usability [ 56 ]. A review [ 57 ] of cannabis apps conducted in 2014 found that the most common content areas largely consisted of cannabis strain classification guides, factoids about cannabis, and games, but few apps addressed negative health effects of cannabis use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaping-Related Mobile Apps Available in the Google Play Store After the Apple Ban: Content Review

Meacham¹,

Vogel²,

Thrul³

2020

J Med Internet Res

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Background In response to health concerns about vaping devices (eg, youth nicotine use, lung injury), Apple removed 181 previously approved vaping-related apps from the App Store in November 2019. This policy change may lessen youth exposure to content that glamorizes vaping; however, it may also block important sources of information and vaping device control for adults seeking to use vaping devices safely. Objective Understanding the types of nicotine and cannabis vaping–related apps still available in the competing Google Play Store can shed light on how digital apps may reflect information available to consumers. Methods In December 2019, we searched the Google Play Store for vaping-related apps using the keywords "vape" and "vaping" and reviewed the first 100 apps presented in the results. We reviewed app titles, descriptions, screenshots, and metadata to categorize the intended substance (nicotine or cannabis/tetrahydrocannabinol) and the app’s purpose. The most installed apps in each purpose category were downloaded and evaluated for quality and usability with the Mobile App Rating Scale. Results Of the first 100 apps, 79 were related to vaping. Of these 79 apps, 43 (54%) were specific to nicotine, 3 (4%) were specific to cannabis, 1 (1%) was intended for either, and for the remaining 31 (39%), the intended substance was unclear. The most common purposes of the apps were making do-it-yourself e-liquids (28/79, 35%) or coils (25/79, 32%), games/entertainment (19/79, 24%), social networking (16/79, 20%), and shopping for vaping products (15/79, 19%). Of the 79 apps, at least 4 apps (5%) paired with vaping devices to control temperature or dose settings, 8 apps (10%) claimed to help people quit smoking using vaping, and 2 apps (3%) had the goal of helping people quit vaping. Conclusions The majority of vaping-related apps in the Google Play Store had features either to help users continue vaping, such as information for modifying devices, or to maintain interest in vaping. Few apps were for controlling device settings or assisting with quitting smoking or vaping. Assuming that these Google Play Store apps were similar in content to the Apple App Store apps that were removed, it appears that Apple’s ban would have a minimal effect on people who vape with the intention of quitting smoking or who are seeking information about safer vaping via mobile apps.

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Use of gamification strategies and tactics in mobile applications for smoking cessation: a review of the UK mobile app market

Cited by 35 publications

References 41 publications

Use of mHealth Technology for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review

Use of mHealth Technology for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review

Impact of Gamification on the Self-Efficacy and Motivation to Quit of Smokers: Observational Study of Two Gamified Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps

Vaping-Related Mobile Apps Available in the Google Play Store After the Apple Ban: Content Review

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