scholarly journals Content analysis of behavior change techniques in popular mobile apps for smoking cessation in France. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luz Bustamante ◽  
Cédric Gill Ménard ◽  
Sabrina Julien ◽  
Lucia Romo
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽  
Content Quality ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
General Quality

BACKGROUND The mobile app market differs from country to country, and to date no previous review of smoking cessation applications (apps) content quality has been conducted in France. OBJECTIVE The current review aims to examine the general quality of the most popular smoking cessation apps in France and also determine the degree to which apps adhere to established behavioral and cognitive techniques (BCT’s) proven effective in clinical practice. METHODS A systematic research of smoking cessation apps was conducted in both Google Play and Apple store in the French market. The general quality of popular apps was rated with the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and the therapeutical quality was assessed with the ratio of adherence of the BCT taxonomy for smoking cessation treatment. RESULTS 14 mobile apps met all the inclusion criteria of the content analysis. The inter-rater reliability varies from “substantial’ (0,79) to “almost perfect” (0,9) for both measures. The mean MARS score was 3,5 out of 5 (median 3,1- IQR 1,3). Findings suggest that popular apps focused primary on the functionality dimension of the MARS scale (4.2 out of 5). The average number of BCT techniques was 22, with a huge difference between apps (min=4/max=38). At least half of the apps addressed motivation (63%) and advise on using behavioral skills in order to quit or stay nonsmoker (62%). However, only a handful of apps gathered important information (42%) in order to deliver proper advice regarding the use of approved medication or the implementation of the behavioral techniques (31%). The average MARS score was positively correlated with the price (r = .70, p = < .001), and with the number of BCT’s used (r = .66, p = < .005). User rating was not correlated with any quality scale. CONCLUSIONS Content quality of popular smoking cessation apps in France varied by app type and price. Most popular apps propose in general a good quality content but lack the implementation of evidence based BCT’s associated with effectiveness on smoking cessation treatment. Further research is needed to evaluate the improvement of the quality content of smoking cessation apps in France.

Nick Noguez and Michael Gonzalez Discuss their Research Project: Are Social Features in Mobile Health Apps Effective in Engaging Users? A Content Analysis of Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Noguez And Michael Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Social Features ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

  Despite the ubiquity of smartphone ownership and the increasing integration of social engagement features in smoking cessation apps to engage users, thesocial engagement features that exist in current smoking cessation apps and how effective these social features are in engaging users remain unclear. To fill the gap in the literature, a content analysis of free and paid smoking cessation mobile apps isconducted to examine a) the presence of socialengagement features(e.g., social support, social announcement, social referencing) and non-social engagement features (e.g., personal environmental changes, goal setting), and b) their relationship with user ratingsand engagement scores (e.g., Mobile App rating scale [MARS]). The findings will not only extend the mobile health apps engagement typology,but also inform smoking cessation mobile apps design.

scholarly journals Theory-Based Social and Non-Social Engagement Features in Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps: A Content Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9106
Author(s):  
Qinghua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Social Referencing ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
The Social

Despite the ubiquity of smartphone ownership and the increasing integration of social engagement features in smoking cessation apps to engage users, the social and non-social engagement features that are present in current smoking cessation apps and the effectiveness of these features in engaging users remain understudied. To fill the gap in the literature, a content analysis of free and paid smoking cessation mobile apps was conducted to examine (a) the presence of social features (i.e., social support, social announcement, and social referencing) and non-social engagement features (e.g., personal environmental changes, goal setting, progress tracking, reinforcement tracking, self-monitoring, and personalized recommendations) and (b) their relationships with user engagement scores measured by the Mobile App Rating Scale. In this study, 28.2% of the smoking cessation apps enable social announcement and 8.1% offered the social support feature. Only two apps provided a social referencing feature (1.3%). No app included reinforcement tracking, with the percentage of other non-social engagement features ranging from 9.4% to 49.0%. Social support (β = 0.30, p < 0.001), social announcement (β = 0.21, p < 0.05), and social referencing (β = 0.18, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of user engagement. Regarding the non-social engagement features, personal environment changes (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), progress tracking (β = 0.18, p < 0.05), and personalized recommendations (β = 0.37, p < 0.001) significantly predicted user engagement. The findings not only contribute to the mobile communication literature by applying and extending the theory-based mobile health apps engagement typology, but also inform the future architecture design of smoking cessation mobile apps.

scholarly journals Quality of Mobile Apps for Care Partners of People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Mobile App Rating Scale Evaluation (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole E Werner ◽  
Janetta C Brown ◽  
Priya Loganathar ◽  
Richard J Holden
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Future Research ◽  
App Development ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
Acceptable Quality ◽  
The Us ◽  
Google Play

BACKGROUND The over 11 million care partners in the US who provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) cite persistent and pervasive unmet needs related to all aspects of their caregiving role. The proliferation of mobile applications (apps) for care partners has potential to meet the care partners’ needs, but the quality of apps is unknown. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to 1) evaluate the quality of publicly available apps for care partners of people living with ADRD and 2) identify design features of low- and high-quality apps to guide future research and app development. METHODS We searched the US Apple and Google Play app stores with the criteria that the app needed to be 1) available in US Google play or Apple app stores, 2) directly accessible to users “out of the box”, 3) primarily intended for use by an informal (family, friend) caregiver or caregivers of a person with dementia. The included apps were then evaluated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), which includes descriptive app classification and rating using 23 items across five dimensions: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information, and subjective quality. Next, we computed descriptive statistics for each rating. To identify recommendations for future research and app development, we categorized rater comments on the score driving factors for each item and what the app could have done to improve the score for that item. RESULTS We evaluated 17 apps (41% iOS only, 12% Android only, 47% both iOS and Android). We found that on average, the apps are of minimally acceptable quality. Although we identified apps above and below minimally acceptable quality, many apps had broken features and were rated as below acceptable for engagement and information. CONCLUSIONS Minimally acceptable quality is likely insufficient to meet care partner needs. Future research should establish minimum quality standards across dimensions for mobile apps for care partners. The design features of high-quality apps we identified in this research can provide the foundation for benchmarking those standards.

Quality of life in smokers following smoking cessation treatment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Despoina Chatzilia ◽  
Stamatina Stratouli ◽  
Athanasios Stamatellopoulos ◽  
Ioannis Alamanos ◽  
Petros Mihos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽  
Cessation Treatment

scholarly journals Measuring the Quality of Clinical Skills Mobile Apps for Student Learning: Systematic Search, Analysis, and Comparison of Two Measurement Scales (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehmina Gladman ◽  
Grace Tylee ◽  
Steve Gallagher ◽  
Jonathan Mair ◽  
Rebecca Grainger
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Systematic Search ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
High Quality

BACKGROUND Mobile apps are widely used in health professions, which increases the need for simple methods to determine the quality of apps. In particular, teachers need the ability to curate high-quality mobile apps for student learning. OBJECTIVE This study aims to systematically search for and evaluate the quality of clinical skills mobile apps as learning tools. The quality of apps meeting the specified criteria was evaluated using two measures—the widely used Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), which measures general app quality, and the Mobile App Rubric for Learning (MARuL), a recently developed instrument that measures the value of apps for student learning—to assess whether MARuL is more effective than MARS in identifying high-quality apps for learning. METHODS Two mobile app stores were systematically searched using clinical skills terms commonly found in medical education and apps meeting the criteria identified using an approach based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 9 apps were identified during the screening process. The apps were rated independently by 2 reviewers using MARS and MARuL. RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the 2 raters using MARS and MARuL were the same (MARS ICC [two-way]=0.68; <i>P</i>&lt;.001 and MARuL ICC [two-way]=0.68; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Of the 9 apps, Geeky Medics-OSCE revision (MARS Android=3.74; MARS iOS=3.68; MARuL Android=75; and MARuL iOS=73) and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision (MARS Android=3.79; MARS iOS=3.71; MARuL Android=69; and MARuL iOS=73) scored highly on both measures of app quality and for both Android and iOS. Both measures also showed agreement for the lowest rated app, Patient Education Institute (MARS Android=2.21; MARS iOS=2.11; MARuL Android=18; and MARuL iOS=21.5), which had the lowest scores in all categories except information (MARS) and professional (MARuL) in both operating systems. MARS and MARuL were both able to differentiate between the highest and lowest quality apps; however, MARuL was better able to differentiate apps based on teaching and learning quality. CONCLUSIONS This systematic search and rating of clinical skills apps for learning found that the quality of apps was highly variable. However, 2 apps—Geeky Medics-OSCE revision and OSCE PASS: Medical Revision—rated highly for both versions and with both quality measures. MARS and MARuL showed similar abilities to differentiate the quality of the 9 apps. However, MARuL’s incorporation of teaching and learning elements as part of a multidimensional measure of quality may make it more appropriate for use with apps focused on teaching and learning, whereas MARS’s more general rating of quality may be more appropriate for health apps targeting a general health audience. Ratings of the 9 apps by both measures also highlighted the variable quality of clinical skills mobile apps for learning. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Mobile apps for detecting falsified and substandard drugs: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246061
Author(s):  
Agustín Ciapponi ◽  
Manuel Donato ◽  
A. Metin Gülmezoglu ◽  
Tomás Alconada ◽  
Ariel Bardach
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Medical Database ◽  
Bar Code ◽  
Medical Databases

The use of substandard and counterfeit medicines (SCM) leads to significant health and economic consequences, like treatment failure, rise of antimicrobial resistance, extra expenditures of individuals or households and serious adverse drug reactions including death. Our objective was to systematically search, identify and compare relevant available mobile applications (apps) for smartphones and tablets, which use could potentially affect clinical and public health outcomes. We carried out a systematic review of the literature in January 2020, including major medical databases, and app stores. We used the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) to assess the quality of apps, (1 worst score, 3 acceptable score, and 5 best score). We planned to evaluate the accuracy of the mobile apps to detect SCM. We retrieved 335 references through medical databases and 42 from Apple, Google stores and Google Scholar. We finally included two studies of the medical database, 25 apps (eight from the App Store, eight from Google Play, eight from both stores, and one from Google Scholar), and 16 websites. We only found one report on the accuracy of a mobile apps detecting SCMs. Most apps use the imprint, color or shape for pill identification, and only a few offer pill detection through photographs or bar code. The MARS mean score for the apps was 3.17 (acceptable), with a maximum of 4.9 and a minimum of 1.1. The ‘functionality’ dimension resulted in the highest mean score (3.4), while the ‘engagement’ and ‘information’ dimensions showed the lowest one (3.0). In conclusion, we found a remarkable evidence gap about the accuracy of mobile apps in detecting SCMs. However, mobile apps could potentially be useful to screen for SCM by assessing the physical characteristics of pills, although this should still be assessed in properly designed research studies.

scholarly journals Changes in health-related quality of life with smoking cessation treatment

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Taylor Hays ◽  
Ivana T. Croghan ◽  
Christine L. Baker ◽  
Joseph C. Cappelleri ◽  
Andrew G. Bushmakin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals A content analysis of the quality and behaviour change techniques of smartphone apps promoting the Mediterranean diet

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel McAleese ◽  
Angeliki Papadaki
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Subjective Quality ◽  
Behaviour Change Techniques ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractThe popularity of smartphone apps is rising globally. However, the quality of widely available health apps and their effectiveness to promote behaviour change, by incorporating behavioural change techniques (BCTs) that have been suggested to result in behaviour change, is questionable. The aim of this study was to conduct a content analysis of smartphone apps that utilise the Mediterranean diet (MD), a dietary pattern linked to numerous health benefits, to promote healthy dietary behaviours. The specific objectives were to evaluate the quality of these apps and their use of BCTs. The iTunes Store and Google Play were searched for all available apps (free and requiring payment to download) promoting the MD. Apps were excluded if they were not available in English, did not focus only on the MD or the download process was corrupt. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) was used to assess app engagement, functionality, aesthetics and information quality (the average of which represents a quality mean score (QMS)) and subjective quality. The Abraham & Michie behaviour change taxonomy was adapted to create a 20-item checklist to assess the presence of BCTs in the eligible apps. Thirty nine apps (64.1% of which were free to download) were analysed. The overall QMS was 2.96 ± 0.46. The lowest and highest scored QMS constructs were engagement (2.42 ± 0.62) and functionality (3.95 ± 0.45), respectively, whilst the overall mean subjective quality score was 1.71 ± 0.51 (scores’ range 1–5). Apps were scored higher for aesthetics if they required payment (3.14 vs. 2.78, p = 0.047). Apps incorporated an average of 3.10 ± 1.87 BCTs, with no difference in the number of BCTs present according to platform or cost. From the five BCTs that have been suggested to promote behaviour change, ‘self-monitoring’ was present in six apps, ‘intention formation’ in 15 and ‘goal setting’ in one. None of the apps incorporated the ‘review of behavioural goals’ and ‘feedback on performance’ BCTs. The total QMS score was positively associated with the presence of BCTs (r = 0.409, p = 0.008). Based on the MARS assessment, apps promoting the MD that are available in the public domain were of moderate quality. In contrast, the low presence, particularly of efficacious, BCTs and low subjective quality scores suggest that apps are actually of poor quality and potentially not effective in promoting behaviour change towards an MD diet. These findings provide important insights for the future development of high-quality apps to promote the MD at population level.

scholarly journals Diet-Related Mobile Apps to Promote Healthy Eating and Proper Nutrition: A Content Analysis and Quality Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3496
Author(s):  
Jihye Choi ◽  
Chongwook Chung ◽  
Hyekyung Woo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Selection Of

Dietary mobile applications (apps) continue to hold promise for facilitating a healthy diet and managing nutrition. However, few studies have objectively evaluated the content and quality of such apps in Korea. The present study assessed the content and quality of dietary mobile apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). We selected 29 dietary apps based on keywords and eligibility criteria for inclusion in the analyses. We conducted regression analyses to examine the association between app content and MARS scores. Most of the apps featured a tracking tool, while few featured rewards or follow-up management. Our quality assessment revealed that the top-rated apps have distinct levels of quality in terms of MARS scores. The regression analyses showed that the ways in which the apps provide information and motivate the users are statistically significant predictors of app quality. Our findings may facilitate the selection of dietary apps in Korea and provide guidelines for app developers regarding potential improvements in terms of content and quality.

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