Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34408408›Full record

ArticlePatient preference and adherence2021

The Types and Pattern of Use of Mobile Health Applications Among the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study from Selangor, Malaysia.

Bhuvan Kc, Alian A Alrasheedy, Bey Hing Goh, Ali Blebil, Nida Sajid Ali Bangash, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Inayat Ur Rehman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Patient preference and adherence, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–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

13 citing papers in PubMed.

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  9. Evaluation of Pedometer Interfaces for Mobile Apps.Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics Conference · 2023
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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

7 authors.

Bhuvan KcSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0002-9135-962X
Alian A AlrasheedyDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-3617-7425
Bey Hing GohBiofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0003-1006-3649
Ali BlebilSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0002-7480-1260
Nida Sajid Ali BangashSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0003-4574-0259
Mohamed Izham Mohamed IbrahimCollege of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.ORCID 0000-0001-9757-3574
Inayat Ur RehmanDepartment of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aims of this study are to explore the types and patterns of use of health mobile apps among pharmacy clients in Selangor, Malaysia, and to explore the users' experiences and views regarding the benefits of and issues with the use of the health apps. PATIENTS AND

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 278 pharmacy clients who were using health apps on their smartphones. A survey was developed, piloted, and rolled out, comprised of socio-demographic characteristics, information regarding the common types and the pattern of health app use, the benefits of health apps, and issues that users faced while using these apps. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21.

resultsThe mean (±SD) age of health app users was 29.8 (±11.74) years old, and over half of them (51.8%) were male, while less than half were female (48.2%). There were 48 different types of mobile health apps used by the participants in this study. The two most common were multi-purpose general health apps (53.6%) and fitness apps (38.1%). In terms of pattern of use, 33.5% of the participants reported using their health apps daily, 36.7% at least once weekly, and 25.2% monthly. The main benefits reported by the users were tracking of health status (47%), motivation (41%), and knowledge about health and fitness (9%). The main issues reported by the participants included inaccuracy of the app (24%), inconvenience (20.7%), and not being user-friendly (18.5%).

conclusionThe study showed that the participants used many different types of mobile health apps for several purposes, including general health, wellness, fitness, and self-management of diseases. These apps helped the participants to track their health-related activities and motivated them to maintain their wellness and fitness. Further areas of improvement were identified to ensure evidence-based and effective utilization of apps to achieve required health outcomes.

Indexed as

digital healthdigital patientshealth appsMalaysiamobile health

Identifiers

PMID34408408
PMCPMC8367216

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.