Functions of mHealth applications : A user’s perspective

ŠMAHEL, David, Steriani ELAVSKY and Hana MACHÁČKOVÁ. Functions of mHealth applications : A user’s perspective. Health Informatics Journal. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publication, 2019, vol. 25, No 3, p. 1065-1075. ISSN 1460-4582. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1460458217740725.

Basic information

• Original name: Functions of mHealth applications : A user’s perspective
• Name in Czech: Funkce mHealth aplikací : uživatelská perspektiva
• Authors: ŠMAHEL, David (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Steriani ELAVSKY (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Hana MACHÁČKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Health Informatics Journal, Thousand Oaks, SAGE Publication, 2019, 1460-4582.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50802 Media and socio-cultural communication
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.932
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/19:00107150
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1460458217740725
• UT WoS: 000492276100044
• Keywords in English: apps; drive for thinness; eating behaviors; eHealth; excessive exercise; exercise; functions of apps; health; health application; mHealth; nutrition
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The usage of mobile health (mHealth) applications is rapidly increasing. This research has been aimed mostly at reviewing existing mHealth apps and their functionality. However, studies from users perspectives are rather scarce. This exploratory study addresses that gap and, using cross-sectional survey data, seeks to reveal the socio-demographic and individual characteristics of users who utilize specific functions of mHealth apps. The data were collected via an online survey through websites oriented toward eating habits, exercising, dieting, and weight loss (N = 2002). The analyses revealed demographic and individual differences in predicting usage of various functions of mHealth apps. The drive for thinness was associated with functions for weight monitoring and planning functions. The excessive exercise was associated with weight monitoring, socializing functions, and functions for planning and monitoring goals. These findings imply that mHealth apps should be individually tailored to incorporate components such as risk-specific warnings or the provision of information related to seeking professional help for at-risk audiences.

Links

• GA15-05696S, research and development project: Name: Tenká hranice mezi poruchou a zdravým životním stylem: zkoumání online chování dnešních mladých lidí (Acronym: THINLINE)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, The thin line between disorder and a healthy lifestyle: Investigating the online behavior of today’s youth