Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28246069›Full record

ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2017

"Back on Track": A Mobile App Observational Study Using Apple's ResearchKit Framework.

Martin Zens, Peter Woias, Norbert P Suedkamp, Philipp Niemeyer

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed
11.3field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 32 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Mobile apps for real-world evidence in health care.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2020
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Leveraging mobile health applications for biomedical research and citizen science: a scoping review.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2018
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Martin ZensDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5102-979X
Peter WoiasDesign of Microsystems, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4715-6032
Norbert P SuedkampDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5913-624X
Philipp NiemeyerDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8433-0872
University of Freiburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn March 2015, Apple Inc announced ResearchKit, a novel open-source framework intended to help medical researchers to easily create apps for medical studies. With the announcement of this framework, Apple presented 5 apps built in a beta phase based on this framework.

objectiveThe objective of this study was to better understand decision making in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. Here, we describe the development of a ResearchKit app for this study.

methodsA multilanguage observatory study was conducted. At first a suitable research topic, target groups, participating territories, and programming method were carefully identified. The ResearchKit framework was used to program the app. A secure server connection was realized via Secure Sockets Layer. A data storage and security concept separating personal information and study data was proposed. Furthermore, an efficient method to allow multilanguage support and distribute the app in many territories was presented. Ethical implications were considered and taken into account regarding privacy policies.

resultsAn app study based on ResearchKit was developed without comprehensive iPhone Operating System (iOS) development experience. The Apple App Store is a major distribution channel causing significant download rates (>1.200/y) without active recruitment. Preliminary data analysis showed moderate dropout rates and a good quality of data. A total of 180 participants were currently enrolled with 107 actively participating and producing 424 completed surveys in 9 out of 24 months.

conclusionsResearchKit is an easy-to-use framework and powerful tool to create medical studies. Advantages are the modular built, the extensive reach of iOS devices, and the convenient programming environment.

Indexed as

anterior cruciate ligament injurymHealthmobile health

Identifiers

PMID28246069
PMCPMC5350459
OpenAlexW2592440681

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.