Hansen B, Scheier L. (2019). Specialized Smartphone Intervention Apps: Review of 2014 to 2018 NIH Funded Grants. JMIR mHealth uHealth. 7(7). doi:10.2196/14655
Researchers reviewed 397 NIH-funded grant application abstracts from a search for mobile health (mHealth)-related keywords via NIH’s electronic tool RePORTER in a five-year review of mHealth application (app) specialization. Researchers reviewed abstracts to identify common mHealth intervention strategies, and to highlight opportunities and limitations presented by mHealth interventions. Researchers classified 13 discrete strategy categories of app interventions. A majority of grants (74.0%) incorporated 1 (35.0%) or 2 (39.0%) intervention strategies. The most common intervention strategy observed was Monitoring and Feedback (48.4%) for measured and generated behavioral data, sometimes through wearable technology (15.7%). App interventions used Norm Setting strategies least (1.8%). Gaming and Gamification strategies taught users new cognitive behavioral techniques through engagement in creative, competitive play. Apps most often combined Gaming and Gamification strategies with Skills Training, Monitoring and Feedback, and Education and Information strategies, while Norm Setting strategies were the only category that did not pair with Gaming and Gamification strategies. Researchers contend that expanded unification of Gaming and Gamification strategies with the 12 other strategies could better realize the gamification potential of smartphones. Interest in mHealth interventions continues to accelerate; NIH funded 60 health-related app intervention grants in 2014 and 112 grants in 2018 (86.7% increase). Given the potential benefits app interventions may have for health optimization and disease prevention and treatment, NIH has increased its funding of mHealth smartphone apps.