Evaluating mobile phone applications for health behaviour change: A systematic review

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare

Volumn 24, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 22-30

  McKay, Fiona H ^a   Cheng, Christina ^a   Wright, Annemarie ^b   Shill, Jane ^b   Stephens, Hugh ^c   Uccellini, Mary ^c  

^a DEAKIN UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b VicHealth   (Australia)

^c Dialogue Consulting   (Australia)

Author keywords

android; app; apple; behaviour change; health; health promotion; Smartphone

Indexed keywords

HEALTH BEHAVIOR; HEALTH CARE QUALITY; HUMAN; MOBILE APPLICATION; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PROCEDURES; SMARTPHONE; TELEMEDICINE; UTILIZATION;

HEALTH BEHAVIOR; HUMANS; MOBILE APPLICATIONS; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT (HEALTH CARE); QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE; SMARTPHONE; TELEMEDICINE;

EID: 85040466970     PISSN: 1357633X     EISSN: 17581109     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/1357633X16673538     Document Type: Review

References (70)

1. Deloitte. Media consumer survey 2014, http://landing.deloitte.com.au/rs/deloitteaus/images/Deloitte_Media_Consumer_Survey_2014.pdf?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonuK%2FPd%2B%2FhmjTEU5z16uUpWaGzi4kz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMTcVnN77YDBceEJhqyQJxPr3CKtEN09dxRhLgAA%3D%3D (2014, accessed 20 May 2015)
2. Australian Communication and Media Authority. Communications report 2012-3, http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/Library/Corporate-library/Corporate-publications/communications-report-2012-13 (2013, accessed 29 April 2015)
3. cNet. Apple: More than 100 billion app downloads from iTunes Store, http://www.cnet.com/news/wwdc-by-the-numbers/(2015, accessed 28 February 2016)
4. Sims G. Google Play Store vs the Apple App Store: By the numbers, http://www.androidauthority.com/google-play-store-vs-the-apple-app-store-601836/ (2015, accessed 20 May 2015)
5. Fjeldsoe BS, Marshall AL, Miller YD. Behavior change interventions delivered by mobile telephone short-message service. Am J Prev Med 2009; 36(2): 165–173.
6. Chen Z-W, Fang L-Z, Chen L-Y, Comparison of an SMS text messaging and phone reminder to improve attendance at a health promotion center: A randomized controlled trial. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2008; 9(1): 34–38.
7. Déglise C, Suggs LS, Odermatt P. SMS for disease control in developing countries: A systematic review of mobile health applications. J Telemed Telecare 2012; 18(5): 273–281.
8. Lim MS, Hocking JS, Hellard ME, SMS STI: A review of the uses of mobile phone text messaging in sexual health. Int J STD AIDS 2008; 19(5): 287–290.
9. Luxton DD, McCann RA, Bush NE, mHealth for mental health: Integrating smartphone technology in behavioral healthcare. Prof Psychol Res Pr 2011; 42(6): 505–505.
10. Rosser BA, Eccleston C. Smartphone applications for pain management. J Telemed Telecare 2011; 17(6): 308–312.
11. Sama PR, Eapen ZJ, Weinfurt KP, An evaluation of mobile health application tools. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2014; 2(2): e19–e19.
12. Medical Technology Association of Australia. App purchases by Australian consumers on mobile and handheld devices, http://ccaac.gov.au/files/2013/02/MedicalTechnologyAssociationofAustralia.pdf (2013, accessed 29 April 2015)
13. Donker T, Petrie K, Proudfoot J, Smartphones for smarter delivery of mental health programs: A systematic review. J Med Internet Res 2013; 15(11): e247–e247.
14. Payne HE, Lister C, West JH, Behavioral functionality of mobile apps in health interventions: A systematic review of the literature. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2015; 3(1): e20–e20.
15. Free C, Phillips G, Galli L, The effectiveness of mobile-health technology-based health behaviour change or disease management interventions for health care consumers: A systematic review. PLoS Med 2013; 10(1): e1001362–e1001362.
16. BinDhim NF, Hawkey A, Trevena L. A systematic review of quality assessment methods for smartphone health apps. Telemed J E Health 2014.
17. Zapata B, Fernández-Alemán J, Idri A, Empirical studies on usability of mhealth apps: A systematic literature review. J Med Syst 2015; 39(2): 1–19.
18. Brown W, III Po-Yin Y, Rojas M, Assessment of the Health IT Usability Evaluation Model (Health-ITUEM) for evaluating mobile health (mHealth) technology. J Biomed Inform 2013; 46(6): 1080–1087.
19. Monkman H, Kushniruk A. A health literacy and usability heuristic evaluation of a mobile consumer health application. Stud Health Technol Inform 2013; 192: 724–728.
20. Stoyanov SR, Hides L, Kavanagh DJ, Mobile app rating scale: A new tool for assessing the quality of health mobile apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2015; 3(1): e27–e27.
21. Casey M, Hayes PS, Glynn F, Patients' experiences of using a smartphone application to increase physical activity: The SMART MOVE qualitative study in primary care. Br J Gen Pract 2014; 64(625): e500–e508.
22. Kirwan M, Duncan MJ, Vandelanotte C, Using smartphone technology to monitor physical activity in the 10,000 steps program: A matched case-control trial. J Med Internet Res 2012; 14(2): ▪▪–▪▪.
23. Martínez-Pérez B, de la Torre-Díez I, López-Coronado M. Mobile health applications for the most prevalent conditions by the World Health Organization: Review and analysis. J Med Internet Res 2013; 15(6): e120–e120.
24. Ubhi HK, Kotz D, Michie S, Comparative analysis of smoking cessation smartphone applications available in 2012 versus 2014. Addict Behav 2016; 58: 175–181.
25. Patel R, Sulzberger L, Li G, Smartphone apps for weight loss and smoking cessation: Quality ranking of 120 apps. N Z Med J 2015; 128: 73–76.
26. Hoeppner BB, Hoeppner SS, Seaboyer L, How smart are smartphone apps for smoking cessation? a content analysis. Nicotine Tob Res 2016; 18(5): 1025–1031.
27. Abroms LC, Westmaas JL, Bontemps-Jones J, A content analysis of popular smartphone apps for smoking cessation. Am J Prev Med 2013; 45(6): 732–736.
28. Arnhold M, Quade M, Kirch W. Mobile applications for diabetics: A systematic review and expert-based usability evaluation considering the special requirements of diabetes patients age 50 years or older. J Med Internet Res 2014; 16(4): e104–e104.
29. Azar KM, Lesser LI, Laing BY, Mobile applications for weight management: Theory-based content analysis. Am J Prev Med 2013; 45(5): 583–589.
30. Bender JL, Yue RYK, To MJ, A lot of action, but not in the right direction: Systematic review and content analysis of smartphone applications for the prevention, detection, and management of cancer. J Med Internet Res 2013; 15(12): 49–59.
31. Choi J, Noh G-Y, Park D-J. Smoking cessation apps for smartphones: Content analysis with the self-determination theory. J Med Internet Res 2014; 16(2): 143–156.
32. Chomutare T, Fernandez-Luque L, Arsand E, Features of mobile diabetes applications: Review of the literature and analysis of current applications compared against evidence-based guidelines. J Med Internet Res 2011; 13(3): e65–e65.
33. Eng DS, Lee JM. The promise and peril of mobile health applications for diabetes and endocrinology. Pediatr Diabetes 2013; 14(4): 231–238.
34. Huckvale K, Car M, Morrison C, Apps for asthma self-management: A systematic assessment of content and tools. BMC Med 2012; 10: 144–144.
35. Hundert AS, Huguet A, McGrath PJ, Commercially available mobile phone headache diary apps: A systematic review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2014; 2(3): e36–e36.
36. Kassianos AP, Emery JD, Murchie P, Smartphone applications for melanoma detection by community, patient and generalist clinician users: A review. Br J Dermatol 2015; 172(6): 1507–1518.
37. Kumar N, Khunger M, Gupta A, A content analysis of smartphone-based applications for hypertension management. J Am Soc Hypertens 2015; 9(2): 130–136.
38. Mobasheri MH, Johnston M, King D, Smartphone breast applications – What's the evidence? Breast J 2014; 23(5): 683–689.
39. Pandey A, Hasan S, Dubey D, Smartphone apps as a source of cancer information: Changing trends in health information-seeking behavior. J Cancer Educ 2013; 28(1): 138–142.
40. Plaza I, Demarzo MMP, Herrera-Mercadal P, Mindfulness-based mobile applications: Literature review and analysis of current features. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2013; 1(2): e24–e24.
41. Reynoldson C, Stones C, Allsop M, Assessing the quality and usability of smartphone apps for pain self-management. Pain Med 2014; 15(6): 898–909.
42. Shen N, Levitan M-J, Johnson A, Finding a depression app: A review and content analysis of the depression app marketplace. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2015; 3(1): e16–e16.
43. Cohn AM, Hunter-Reel D, Hagman BT, Promoting behavior change from alcohol use through mobile technology: The future of ecological momentary assessment. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 35(12): 2209–2215.
44. Conroy DE, Yang C-H, Maher JP. Behavior change techniques in top-ranked mobile apps for physical activity. Am J Prev Med 2014; 46(6): 649–652.
45. Bardus M, van Beurden SB, Smith JR, A review and content analysis of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, and change techniques in the most popular commercial apps for weight management. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2016; 13: 1–9.
46. Martínez-Pérez B, de la Torre-Díez I, López-Coronado M, et al. Mobile apps in cardiology: review. JMIR Mhealth And Uhealth 2013; 1(2): e15–e15
47. Direito A, Dale LP, Shields E, Do physical activity and dietary smartphone applications incorporate evidence-based behaviour change techniques? BMC Public Health 2014; 14(1): 1656–1672.
48. Middelweerd A, Mollee J, van der Wal C, Apps to promote physical activity among adults: A review and content analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014; 11(1): 1–15.
49. Pagoto S, Schneider K, Jojic M, Evidence-based strategies in weight-loss mobile apps. Am J Prev Med 2013; 45(5): 576–582.
50. Vollmer Dahlke D, Fair K, Apps seeking theories: Results of a study on the use of health behavior change theories in cancer survivorship mobile apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2015; 3(1): e31–e31.
51. Wearing JR, Nollen N, Befort C, iPhone app adherence to expert-recommended guidelines for pediatric obesity prevention. Child Obes 2014; 10(2): 132–144.
52. Yang C-H, Maher JP, Conroy DE. Implementation of behavior change techniques in mobile applications for physical activity. Am J Prev Med 2015; 48(4): 452–455.
53. Morrissey EC, Corbett TK, Walsh JC, Behavior change techniques in apps for medication adherence: A content analysis. Am J Prev Med 2016; 50(5): e143–e146.
54. Derbyshire E, Dancey D. Smartphone medical applications for women's health: What is the evidence-base and feedback? Int J Telemed Appl 2013, pp. 1–10.
55. García-Gómez JM, de la Torre-Díez I, Vicente J, Analysis of mobile health applications for a broad spectrum of consumers: A user experience approach. Health Informatics J 2014; 20(1): 74–84.
56. Weaver ER, Horyniak DR, Jenkinson R, ‘Let's get Wasted!’ and other apps: Characteristics, acceptability, and use of alcohol-related smartphone applications. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2013; 1(1): e9–e9.
57. Michie S, Ashford S, Sniehotta FF, A refined taxonomy of behaviour change techniques to help people change their physical activity and healthy eating behaviours: The CALO-RE taxonomy. Psychol Health 2011; 26(11): 1479–1498.
58. Abraham C, Michie S. A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions. Health Psychol 2008; 27(3): 379–387.
59. Michie S, Richardson M, Johnston M, The behavior change technique taxonomy (v1) of 93 hierarchically clustered techniques: Building an international consensus for the reporting of behavior change interventions. Ann Behav Med 2013; 46(1): 81–95.
60. Nielsen J and Molich R. Heuristic evaluation of user interfaces. In: Chew JC and Whiteside J (eds) Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Seattle, WA, USA, 01–05 April 1990, pp.249–256. New York: ACM
61. Abroms LC, Lee Westmaas J, Bontemps-Jones J, A content analysis of popular smartphone apps for smoking cessation. Am J Prev Med 2013; 45(6): 732–736.
62. Robustillo Cortés MdlA, Cantudo Cuenca MR, High quantity but limited quality in healthcare applications intended for HIV-infected patients. Telemed J E Health 2014; 20(8): 729–735.
63. Riley W, Rivera D, Atienza A, Health behavior models in the age of mobile interventions: Are our theories up to the task? Transl Behav Med 2011; 1(1): 53–71.
64. Sunyaev A, Dehling T, Taylor PL, Availability and quality of mobile health app privacy policies. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2015; 22(e1): e28–e33.
65. Mylonas A, Kastania A, Gritzalis D. Delegate the smartphone user? Security awareness in smartphone platforms. Computers & Security 2013; 34: 47–66.
66. Singh RI, Sumeeth M, Miller J. Evaluating the readability of privacy policies in mobile environments. International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction 2011; 3(1): 55–74.
67. Cheng C, Dunn M. Health literacy and the Internet: A study on the readability of Australian online health information. Aust N Z J Public Health 2015; 39(4): 309–314.
68. Keleher H, Hagger V. Health literacy in primary health care. Aust J Prim Health 2007; 13(2): 24–30.
69. McCray AT. Promoting health literacy. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2005; 12(2): 152–163.
70. Walsh TM, Volsko TA. Readability assessment of Internet-based consumer health information. Respir Care 2008; 53(10): 1310–1315.