Zhao J, Freeman B, Li M. (2016). Can mobile phone apps influence people’s health behavior change? An evidence review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 18(11): e287. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5692
Researchers reviewed 23 studies of mobile health applications (mhealth apps) to examine their effectiveness at eliciting behavior change. Researchers categorized the apps based on the behavior they were targeting. Mental health or alcohol addiction; physical activity, weight control, or diet control; medication management; and lifestyle improvement were the main categories that the apps fell in. Fewer apps targeted diabetes management, sun protection, hypertension management, cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation, family planning, and pain management. Of the studies examined, only six reviewed commercially available apps. The studies used behavior change theories (e.g. theory of planned behavior, social cognitive theory), behavior change techniques (e.g. self-monitoring, feedback, tailoring), and specific behavioral therapies (e.g. motivational enhancement therapy, behavioral activation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy). Seventeen of the apps achieved significant improvement in the target behavior. Based on the features of effective and ineffective mhealth apps, researchers suggested that future mhealth apps have a user-friendly design with useful information and tailored feedback that is easy to navigate and not time consuming to use. Researchers emphasize that, given the widespread availability and use of mhealth apps with little to no information about their effectiveness, there needs to be more research rigorously examining mhealth apps.