Quantity and type of peer-reviewed evidence for popular free medical apps: Cross-sectional review

Wong, David C.; Nwe, Khine; Evans, Ruth; Nelissen, Natalie; Larsen, Mark E.

doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104416

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…However, a recent study concluded that most apps did not have sufficient evidence to meet the minimum criteria of the NICE’s framework and that apps included in the NHS Health Apps Library presented no more evidence than apps only found in the Apple app store. 14 This conveys the need, and also the challenges, of regulating and keeping up with a constantly updating field of technology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of women’s experiences of using period tracker applications: Attitudes, ovulation prediction and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours

Broad

Biswakarma

Harper

2022

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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Introduction: Using an online survey, the aim of this study was to ask women about their real-life experiences of using period tracker apps, their attitudes towards using their app, the information the app provided regarding ovulation and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours if their period comes earlier or later than predicted. Methods: This mixed-methods observational study was conducted by an online survey of 50 multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The survey was generated with Qualtrics XM® and promoted via social media. It was open to any person who had used a period tracker. Results: From 375 total responses, 330 complete responses were obtained, giving a completion rate of 88.0%. Respondents were aged between 14 and 54, with a mean age of 26.0 (±7.81). When asked what was the best thing about using the app, 29.7% (98/330) of respondents selected ‘To know when I’m ovulating’. Respondents were asked if their period ever started earlier than the app predicted; 54.9% (189/330) said it had and 72.1% (238/330) said it had started later than predicted. When asked how they felt if their period arrived earlier or later than expected, thematic analysis of periods starting earlier revealed four themes: feeling unaffected, being frustrated/unprepared, feeling anxious/stressed and feeling confused/intrigued. Thematic analysis when their period arrived later revealed six themes: anxious/concerned about pregnancy, disappointed about pregnancy, seeking advice/informing healthcare professionals, thoughts about menopause, feeling unaffected and being better prepared. Conclusion: Period trackers need to be clearer on their intended use and reliability, especially for period due date and ovulation. Qualitative analysis shows the impact of inaccurate predictions on aspects of the users’ health. This study calls for period tracker app companies to update their apps to provide transparency to their users about their intended use and capabilities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of women’s experiences of using period tracker applications: Attitudes, ovulation prediction and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours

Broad

Biswakarma

Harper

2022

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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“…Further, content must be evidence-based. 27,28 Unquestionably, this app is no exception. 29 Orthodontists would also benefit from clinical apps that are able to display virtual treatment plans as well as apps that allow access to patient records, radiographs, and other data analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences and Satisfaction Toward an Orthodontic Clinical App

et al. 2023

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Objectives To promote the development of professional orthodontic apps and to grow app engagement, many contributing factors should first be scrutinized. The main purpose of this research was to assess whether gap analysis facilitates strategic app design. Materials and Methods Gap analysis was first conducted to reveal users' preferences. Then, the OrthoAnalysis app was developed on an Android operating system using Java programming language. Finally, a self-administered survey was issued to 128 orthodontic specialists to assess their satisfaction toward usage of the app. Statistical Analysis The content validity of the questionnaire was ascertained using an index of Item-Objective Congruence of more than 0.5. The reliability of the questionnaire was also analyzed with Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient (ɑ = 0.87). Results Besides the most important factor, “content,” many issues were listed, and all were required to engage users. A strong and engaging app should show accurate, trustworthy, and practical clinical analysis that operates smoothly and fast with ease, along with a user-friendly, appealing, and trustworthy interface. In short, because of the preliminary gap analysis that was done to evaluate the potential app engagement power prior to app design, the result of the satisfaction assessment showed that nine traits including overall satisfaction were of high levels. Conclusions Orthodontic specialists' preferences were assessed using gap analysis and an orthodontic app was designed and appraised. This article presents the orthodontic specialists' preferences and summarizes the process of achieving app satisfaction. Therefore, to create a clinical app with strong engagement power, a strategic initial plan using gap analysis can be recommended.

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