Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32186518›Full record

SynthesisJMIR mHealth and uHealth2020

Mobile Apps for Health Behavior Change in Physical Activity, Diet, Drug and Alcohol Use, and Mental Health: Systematic Review.

Madison Milne-Ives, Ching Lam, Caroline De Cock, Michelle Helena Van Velthoven, Edward Meinert

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 199 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
199citing papers in PubMed, 15 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

199 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Enhancing Postsecondary Students' Dietary Behaviours: A Systematic Review of Mobile Health Interventions.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025
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139 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

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

5 authors.

Madison Milne-IvesDigitally Enabled Preventative Health Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7628-882X
Ching LamDigitally Enabled Preventative Health Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-9137-749X
Caroline De CockDigitally Enabled Preventative Health Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7585-9598
Michelle Helena Van VelthovenDigitally Enabled Preventative Health Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1245-8759
Edward MeinertDigitally Enabled Preventative Health Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-2484-3347

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith a growing focus on patient interaction with health management, mobile apps are increasingly used to deliver behavioral health interventions. The large variation in these mobile health apps-their target patient group, health behavior, and behavioral change strategies-has resulted in a large but incohesive body of literature.

objectiveThis systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of mobile apps in improving health behaviors and outcomes and to examine the inclusion and effectiveness of behavior change techniques (BCTs) in mobile health apps.

methodsPubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science were systematically searched for articles published between 2014 and 2019 that evaluated mobile apps for health behavior change. Two authors independently screened and selected studies according to the eligibility criteria. Data were extracted and the risk of bias was assessed by one reviewer and validated by a second reviewer.

resultsA total of 52 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis-37 studies focused on physical activity, diet, or a combination of both, 11 on drug and alcohol use, and 4 on mental health. Participant perceptions were generally positive-only one app was rated as less helpful and satisfactory than the control-and the studies that measured engagement and usability found relatively high study completion rates (mean 83%; n=18, N=39) and ease-of-use ratings (3 significantly better than control, 9/15 rated >70%). However, there was little evidence of changed behavior or health outcomes.

conclusionsThere was no strong evidence in support of the effectiveness of mobile apps in improving health behaviors or outcomes because few studies found significant differences between the app and control groups. Further research is needed to identify the BCTs that are most effective at promoting behavior change. Improved reporting is necessary to accurately evaluate the mobile health app effectiveness and risk of bias.

Indexed as

Mobile ApplicationsPharmaceutical PreparationsDietExerciseHealth BehaviorHumansMental HealthPharmaceutical Preparationsappbehavior changecell phonedigital healthevidence-based medicinehealth behaviorinterventionmobile applicationsmobile healthmobile phonesmartphonesystematic reviewtelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID32186518
PMCPMC7113799

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.