JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Weight-management apps have shown to be promising for managing the obesity epidemic. However, research on the quality of weight-management mHealth apps among the Saudi population is insufficient despite frequent use of medical health apps and smartphones.

Objective:

Objectives: The aims of this study were to (a) explore users’ perceptions of weight-management apps, (b) explore reasons for starting and stopping app use, (c) appraise the quality of weight-management apps available in the iTunes store, and (d) compare the features currently available within the app market and those that are most desirable to weight-management app users.

Methods:

Methods:

A web-based survey consisting of 31 open and closed questions captured (a) sociodemographic information, (b) general health questions, (c) app utilization, (d) app users’ perceptions, and (e) discontinuation of app usage. The quality of the weight-management apps available on the iTunes store was assessed using Mobile Apps Rating Scale (MARS) and evidence-based strategies (EBS). We also used six sigma evaluations to ensure that the quality measured by the aforementioned tools consistently meets customer expectations.

Results:

Results:

Data from 1,074 respondents were analyzed. Of these, 30.1% (324/1,074) used a weight-management app, 18.2% (195/1,074) used an app and stopped, and 51.7% (555/1,074) never used a weight-management app. Twenty-three apps complied with the inclusion criteria. The overall average MARS quality of the identified apps was acceptable; 30% (7/23) received a quality mean score of 4 or higher (out of 5), and only one was originally an Arabic app. Whereas 30% (7/23) of the apps did not meet the acceptability score of 3 or higher. EBS results showed that feedback was not observed in any of the apps, and motivation strategy was observed in only one app. The sigma results of EBS reflect that most of the apps fail to pass the mean. Both tools (MARS and EBS) do not give developers an indication of the acceptance of their apps by mobile users.

Conclusions:

Conclusion: App users desired a feature that allows them to communicate with a specialist, which is a missing feature in the available free apps. Despite the large number and accessibility of weight-management apps, the quality and features of most are variable. It can be concluded from six sigma results that passing the mean does not ensure the quality is consistently distributed through all apps quality properties, and that MARS and EBS do not give developers an indication of the acceptance of their apps by mobile users. This finding stresses the importance to reevaluate the passing criterion which is ≥ 50% for designing an effective app and approaching users.