Previously submitted to: JMIR mHealth and uHealth (no longer under consideration since Sep 16, 2024)
Date Submitted: Jul 22, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 22, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023
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Investigating the Approach of Using Behavior Change Techniques in the Field of Mobile Applications: A Systematic Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
By using behavior change techniques (BCTs) and by creating awareness and motivation in patients, it is possible to help improve people's health. In recent years, mobile technologies are increasingly used in health care, facilitating adherence to chronic disease management, changing behavior, and improving people's lifestyles.
Objective:
This systematic review aims to assess more effective behavior change techniques in increasing adherence in the management of chronic diseases, promoting behavior change, and improving people's lifestyles in the field of mobile applications.
Methods:
A systematic review of English-language studies was conducted by searching in the reliable scientific databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library on February 12, 2023. A total of 8042 articles were obtained, 16 of which were relevant to the objectives of the present study.
Results:
10 cases (62.5%) out of 16 reviewed studies investigated App Store or Google Play Android applications, some of which used the MARS tool to evaluate applications. Studies on maintenance treatments and lifestyle modification, including diet and physical activity, had a greater share (67%). In accordance with the main purpose of this study, all studies pointed to the positive effect of behavior change techniques (100%). Regarding the number of behavior change techniques, at least one technique and a maximum of 53 techniques were mentioned, but none of them mentioned the reason for choosing the desired behavior change technique. In this study, based on the behavior change wheel and its mapping to the BCT taxonomy in the Michie protocol, and citing scientific reasons, two techniques are selected and proposed as the default techniques in the field of mobile applications.
Conclusions:
The results of this systematic review show that the use of behavior change techniques in health interventions, especially mobile phone applications plays an effective role in achieving the health of patients. However, little research has been done in this field, and it is necessary to pay more attention to the use of these techniques in mobile applications in future studies.
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