JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

eHealth interventions have proven to be valuable resources for users with diverse mental and behavioral health concerns. As these technologies continue to proliferate, both academic researchers and commercial app creators are leveraging the use of features that foster a sense of social connection on these virtual platforms. Yet the functionality of these key social features are often not sufficiently represented in the literature, and there is little understanding as to how these social features are being implemented.

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to establish the SoCAP (Social Communication, Affiliation & Presence) taxonomy of social features in eHealth apps. Our goal was to examine what types of social features are being used in eHealth apps and how they are implemented.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of commercially available eHealth apps to develop a taxonomy of social features. First, we created a shortlist of the 20 highest-rated eHealth apps from the One Mind PsyberGuide which rates apps based on their 1) credibility, 2) user experience, and 3) transparency. Next, both mobile- and web-based versions of each app were double-coded by two trained raters to derive a list of social features. Subsequently, the social features were organized by category, and tested on other apps to ensure their completeness.

Results:

Four main categories of social features emerged: 1) Communication Features, 2) Social Presence Features, 3) Affiliation & Identity Features, and 4) Other Social Integrations. Our review shows that eHealth apps frequently employ high-touch interactions (e.g. videoconferencing with a clinician, phone calls from a facilitator, etc.), which may be helpful for high acuity participants. Furthermore, among commercially available eHealth apps, there is a strong reliance on automated features (e.g. avatars, personalized multimedia, tailored content, etc.) that enhance a sense of social presence without requiring a high level of input from a clinician or staff member.

Conclusions:

The SoCAP taxonomy includes a comprehensive list of social features and brief descriptions of how these features work. We aim to provide both academic and commercial eHealth app creators with a broad overview of widely used social features, as well as a shared vocabulary that may help them represent the functionality of their apps.