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Quality of Physical Activity Apps: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis
Sarah Paganini;
Yannik Terhorst;
Lasse Bosse Sander;
Selma Catic;
Sümeyye Balci;
Ann-Marie Küchler;
Dana Schultchen;
Katrin Plaumann;
Sarah Sturmbauer;
Lena Violetta Krämer;
Jiaxi Lin;
Ramona Wurst;
Rüdiger Pryss;
Harald Baumeister;
Eva-Maria Messner
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physical inactivity is a major contributor to the development and maintenance of chronic diseases. Mobile applications (apps) for physical activity have the potential to foster health and well-being.
Objective:
The present study aimed at systematically reviewing and analyzing the content and quality of physical activity apps.
Methods:
A web crawler was used to systematically search for apps promoting physical activity in the Google Play and Apple App Store. Two independent raters used the German Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) to assess app quality. Furthermore, app characteristics, content and functions, privacy and security measures were assessed. Correlation between user star ratings and the MARS was calculated. Exploratory regression analysis was conducted to determine relevant predictors for overall quality.
Results:
312 of 2,231 identified apps met inclusion criteria. Results indicate that overall quality was moderate (M = 3.60, SD = 0.59, range = 1-4.75). For none of the included apps, a scientific evaluation could be identified in the app description. Only 21% of the apps had an imprint or contact information. Average user ratings showed significant small correlations with the MARS rating (r =.22; 95% CI: 0.08-0.35; P < .001). The number of content and function was predictive for overall quality.
Conclusions:
There is a large quality range within apps for physical activity with moderate overall quality ratings. Given the present privacy, security and evidence concerns inherent to most rated apps, recommendations for the use of physical activity apps can only be given with major limitations. There is a need for central databases that identify high-quality apps and new evaluation frameworks.
Citation
Please cite as:
Paganini S, Terhorst Y, Sander LB, Catic S, Balci S, Küchler AM, Schultchen D, Plaumann K, Sturmbauer S, Krämer LV, Lin J, Wurst R, Pryss R, Baumeister H, Messner EM
Quality of Physical Activity Apps: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis