Differences in Eating Behavior, Physical Activity, and Health-related Lifestyle Choices between Users and Nonusers of Mobile Health Apps

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 298-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Sarcona ◽  
Laura Kovacs ◽  
Josephine Wright ◽  
Christine Williams
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

An Integrated Approach Towards Developing Quality Mobile Health Apps for Cancer

2019 ◽  
pp. 46-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelina Kouroubali ◽  
Lefteris Koumakis ◽  
Haridimos Kondylakis ◽  
Dimitrios G. Katehakis
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Cancer Disease ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

The ever-growing demand for acquiring, managing, and exploiting patient health-related information has led to the development of several mobile health apps to support cancer patients. This chapter analyzes the clinical and technological characteristics of mobile apps enabling cancer patients to securely record, manage, and share their information online. It discusses issues relevant to increasing patient experience and acceptance, improving adherence to treatment, and effective support of coordinated care. Outcomes of recent research projects relevant to end user digital engagement, trust, interoperability, and usability/adaptability lead to an integrated approach towards developing quality mobile health apps. Improving quality of life and wellbeing in a secure and safe manner that respects the patients' privacy seems to be the key challenge. Regulation, standardization, and interoperability together with the existence of useful, accurate, and reliable tools for active patient engagement are imperative for efficient cancer disease management.

scholarly journals Customization in mobile health apps: explaining effects on physical activity intentions by the need for autonomy

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 205520761988807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Bol ◽  
Nina Margareta Høie ◽  
Minh Hao Nguyen ◽  
Eline Suzanne Smit
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

Given the widespread adoption and technical possibilities of mobile technology, mobile health apps could be potentially effective tools to intervene in people’s daily routines and stimulate physical activity. Self-determination theory and the motivational technology model both suggest that mobile technology can promote health behaviour change by allowing users to customize their online experience when using mobile health apps. However, we know very little about why and for whom customization is most effective. Using a between-subjects experimental design, we tested the effects of customization in mobile health apps among a convenience sample ( N = 203). We assessed the effects of customization on perceived active control over mobile health apps, autonomous motivation to use mobile health apps, and intention to engage in physical activity, and tested the moderating role of need for autonomy. Structural equation modelling showed that customization in mobile health apps does not increase perceived active control, autonomous motivation, or the intention to engage in physical activity. However, an interaction effect between customization and need for autonomy showed that customization in mobile health apps leads to higher intentions to engage in physical activity for those with a greater need for autonomy, but not for those with a lesser need for autonomy. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Technology for Remote Health Monitoring in an Older Population: A Role for Mobile Devices

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Dupuis ◽  
Lia Tsotsos
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Older Population ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
The Impact

The impact of an aging population on healthcare and the sustainability of our healthcare system are pressing issues in contemporary society. Technology has the potential to address these challenges, alleviating pressures on the healthcare system and empowering individuals to have greater control over monitoring their own health. Importantly, mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets can allow older adults to have “on the go” access to health-related information. This paper explores mobile health apps that enable older adults and those who care for them to track health-related factors such as body readings and medication adherence, and it serves as a review of the literature on the usability and acceptance of mobile health apps in an older population.

Standards for mobile health-related apps (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Miró ◽  
Pere Llorens-Vernet
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Specific Regulation

BACKGROUND In recent years, the considerable increase in the number of mobile health apps has made healthcare more accessible and affordable for all. However, the exponential growth in mHealth solutions has occurred with almost no control or regulation of any kind. Despite some recent initiatives, there is still no specific regulation procedure, accreditation system or standards to help the development of the apps, mitigate risks or guarantee quality. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study is to provide a set of standards for mobile health-related apps on the basis of what is available from guidelines, frameworks, and standards in the field of health app development. METHODS To identify the most important criteria, we used three strategies. First, we conducted a systematic review of all the studies published on health-related apps. Second, we searched for health-app recommendations on the websites of professional organizations. Finally, we looked for standards governing the development of software for medical devices on the specialized webs of regulatory organizations. Then, we compiled the criteria we had identified and determined which of them could be regarded as essential, recommendable or desirable. RESULTS We identified a total of 168 criteria from the systematic review, 282 criteria from published guidelines, and 53 criteria from the standards of medical devices. These criteria were then grouped and subsumed under 8 categories, which included 36 important criteria for health apps. Of these 7 were considered to be essential, 18 recommendable, and 11 desirable. The more essential criteria an mHealth application has, the greater its quality. CONCLUSIONS This set of standards can be easily used by health care providers, developers, patients and other stakeholders, both to guide the development of mHealth related apps and to measure the quality of an mHealth app.

scholarly journals Mobile health apps: An exploration of user-generated reviews in Google Play Store on a physical activity application

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762110149
Author(s):  
Miznah Al-Abbadey ◽  
Megan M-W Fong ◽  
Laura J Wilde ◽  
Roger Ingham ◽  
Daniela Ghio
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Behaviour Change Techniques ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Social Features ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

Objective This study aimed to evaluate reviews that have been posted publicly on the app ‘MapMyRun’ to investigate which features were associated with usage of the app. A secondary aim was to determine whether MapMyRun consisted of specific behaviour change techniques that would have increased the likelihood of users being engaged with the app. Methods Reviews posted on MapMyRun by users between 1st May 2017- 30th April 2018 were extracted, coded and analysed using content analysis. Results Eleven behaviour change techniques were identified among the features of MapMyRun. A total of 3,253 reviews met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 12 codes were developed. The codes were grouped into 8 subthemes within 2 main themes: ‘Effort’ and ‘Self-monitoring’. Consistent with previous literature, ‘Goal-Setting’ and ‘Self-Monitoring of Behaviour’ were two techniques included in MapMyRun. Social features of MapMyRun facilitated competition among users, their family, and friends. Conclusions This was the first qualitative review to assess a single mobile health physical activity app and analyse it from the perspectives of the users. Creators of future mobile health apps should focus on user friendliness and the use of social features, as both may increase the chances of users’ continued use with the app.

scholarly journals Associations of Health App Use and Perceived Effectiveness in People With Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes: Population-Based Survey (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Ernsting ◽  
Lena Mareike Stühmann ◽  
Stephan U Dombrowski ◽  
Jan-Niklas Voigt-Antons ◽  
Adelheid Kuhlmey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND Mobile health apps can help to change health-related behaviors and manage chronic conditions in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes mellitus, but a certain level of health literacy and electronic health (eHealth) literacy may be needed. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with mobile health app use in individuals with CVD or diabetes and detect relations with the perceived effectiveness of health apps among app users. METHODS The study used population-based Web-based survey (N=1500) among Germans, aged 35 years and older, with CVD, diabetes, or both. A total of 3 subgroups were examined: (1) Individuals with CVD (n=1325), (2) Individuals with diabetes (n=681), and (3) Individuals with CVD and diabetes (n=524). Sociodemographics, health behaviors, CVD, diabetes, health and eHealth literacy, characteristics of health app use, and characteristics of apps themselves were assessed by questionnaires. Linear and logistic regression models were applied. RESULTS Overall, patterns of factors associated with health app use were comparable in individuals with CVD or diabetes or both. Across subgroups, about every fourth patient reported using apps for health-related purposes, with physical activity and weight loss being the most prominent target behaviors. Health app users were younger, more likely to be female (except in those with CVD and diabetes combined), better educated, and reported more physical activity. App users had higher eHealth literacy than nonusers. Those users who perceived the app to have a greater effectiveness on their health behaviors tended to be more health and eHealth literate and rated the app to use more behavior change techniques (BCTs). CONCLUSIONS There are health- and literacy-related disparities in the access to health app use among patients with CVD, diabetes, or both, which are relevant to specific health care professionals such as endocrinologists, dieticians, cardiologists, or general practitioners. Apps containing more BCTs had a higher perceived effect on people’s health, and app developers should take the complexity of needs into account. Furthermore, eHealth literacy appears to be a requirement to use health apps successfully, which should be considered in health education strategies to improve health in patients with CVD and diabetes.

scholarly journals PNS187 US NATIONAL TRENDS OF MOBILE HEALTH APPS USE IN 2014 AND 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. S317
Author(s):  
X. Feng ◽  
T. Lavelle ◽  
P.J. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
National Trends

scholarly journals Mobile Health Apps for Medical Emergencies: Systematic Review

10.2196/18513 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e18513
Author(s):  
Alejandro Plaza Roncero ◽  
Gonçalo Marques ◽  
Beatriz Sainz-De-Abajo ◽  
Francisco Martín-Rodríguez ◽  
Carlos del Pozo Vegas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
App Store ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Medical Emergencies ◽  
Google Play

Background Mobile health apps are used to improve the quality of health care. These apps are changing the current scenario in health care, and their numbers are increasing. Objective We wanted to perform an analysis of the current status of mobile health technologies and apps for medical emergencies. We aimed to synthesize the existing body of knowledge to provide relevant insights for this topic. Moreover, we wanted to identify common threads and gaps to support new challenging, interesting, and relevant research directions. Methods We reviewed the main relevant papers and apps available in the literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was used in this review. The search criteria were adopted using systematic methods to select papers and apps. On one hand, a bibliographic review was carried out in different search databases to collect papers related to each application in the health emergency field using defined criteria. On the other hand, a review of mobile apps in two virtual storage platforms (Google Play Store and Apple App Store) was carried out. The Google Play Store and Apple App Store are related to the Android and iOS operating systems, respectively. Results In the literature review, 28 papers in the field of medical emergency were included. These studies were collected and selected according to established criteria. Moreover, we proposed a taxonomy using six groups of applications. In total, 324 mobile apps were found, with 192 identified in the Google Play Store and 132 identified in the Apple App Store. Conclusions We found that all apps in the Google Play Store were free, and 73 apps in the Apple App Store were paid, with the price ranging from US $0.89 to US $5.99. Moreover, 39% (11/28) of the included studies were related to warning systems for emergency services and 21% (6/28) were associated with disaster management apps.

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