McMillan, B., Hickey, E., Patel, M.G. et al. (1 more author) (2016) Quality assessment of a sample of mobile app-based health behavior change interventions using a tool based on the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence behavior change guidance. Patient Education and Counseling , 99 (3). pp. 429-435. ISSN 0738-3991
Abstract
Objective - To quality assess a sample of health behavior change apps from the NHS Apps Library using a rating tool based on the 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence behavior change guidance (NICE BCG).
Methods - A qualitative analysis of the NICE BCG identified themes and questions for a quality assessment of health behavior change apps. These were refined by further discussion and piloting, and applied by two independent raters to a sample of NHS Library apps (N = 49). Disagreements were resolved following discussions with a third rater.
Results - Themes identified were; purpose, planning, usability, tailoring, behavior change technique (BCT), maintenance, evaluation, data security and documentation. Overall, purpose of the apps was clear, but evidence for collaboration with users or professionals was lacking. Usability information was poor and tailoring disappointing. Most used recognized BCTs but paid less attention to behavior maintenance than initiation. Information on app evaluation and documentation was sparse.
Conclusions - This study furthers the work of the NHS Apps Library, adapting the NICE (2014) behavior change guidance for quality assessment of behavior change apps.
Practice implications - This study helps lay the foundations for development of a quality assurance tool for mobile health apps aimed at health behavior change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Patient Education and Counseling. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
Keywords: | mHealth; Behavior change; Quality assessment; Health behavior; Mobile apps |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > The Medical School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 28 Jan 2016 15:43 |
Last Modified: | 15 Nov 2016 21:00 |
Published Version: | https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.10.023 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.pec.2015.10.023 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:91906 |