ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2021
Perceptions of Factors Influencing Engagement With Health and Well-being Apps in the United Kingdom: Qualitative Interview Study.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Understanding engagement with digital health interventions designed for adults with hearing loss and tinnitus: a mixed-method systematic review.Translational behavioral medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Potential associations between behavior change techniques and engagement with mobile health apps: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy and Acceptability of a Mobile App for Monitoring the Clinical Status of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Receiving Home Oxygen Therapy: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Advancing foundational models in digital health technology adoption: A systematic literature review of multidisciplinary factors.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Application Usability, Engagement, and Postpartum Weight Retention: Secondary Analysis of the INTER-ACT Randomized Controlled Trial.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Digital health · 2026Article
- User-Centered Virtual Clinic Services for Remote, Rural, and Underserved Sub-Saharan Africa: Development and Usability Study.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Barriers and facilitators of engagement with app-based pain self-management strategies among chronic pain patients (CPPs).Journal of health psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- Real-World Long-Term Engagement With a Mobile App Intervention to Improve Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in China (SMARTDiabetes): Mixed Methods Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Article
- MOVE@NUS digital intervention cohort: protocol of a pilot study to promote healthy movement in university students.Journal of activity, sedentary and sleep behaviors · 2026Article
- The Impact of a Health Coaching App on the Subjective Well-Being of Individuals With Multimorbidity: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- What is needed for improved uptake and adoption of digital aftercare programs by cancer survivors: a mixed methods study applying the COM-B model.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026Article
- Exploring digital health: a qualitative study on adults' experiences with health apps and wearables.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025Article
- Factors Influencing Engagement in a Digital Substance Use Prevention Program: Qualitative Study Using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation Model and Theoretical Domains Framework.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- Health Care Professionals' Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions in the United Kingdom and China: Mixed Methods Study on Engagement Factors and Design Implications.JMIR mental health · 2025Article
- Investigating health professionals' perspectives and experiences of food security-related conversations in diabetes care.Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association · 2025Article
- Eliciting Preferences for the Uptake of Smoking Cessation Apps: Discrete Choice Experiment.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Quality Evaluating Mobile Health Apps for Oral Hygiene Management Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS): A Systematic Review of Smartphone App Markets.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2025Review
- Exploring Participants' Experiences of Digital Health Interventions With Qualitative Methods: Guidance for Researchers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Patterns and Perceptions of Standard Order Set Use Among Physicians Working Within a Multihospital System: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDigital health devices, such as health and well-being smartphone apps, could offer an accessible and cost-effective way to deliver health and well-being interventions. A key component of the effectiveness of health and well-being apps is user engagement. However, engagement with health and well-being apps is typically poor. Previous studies have identified a list of factors that could influence engagement; however, most of these studies were conducted on a particular population or for an app targeting a particular behavior. An understanding of the factors that influence engagement with a wide range of health and well-being apps can inform the design and the development of more engaging apps in general.
objectiveThe aim of this study is to explore user experiences of and reasons for engaging and not engaging with a wide range of health and well-being apps.
methodsA sample of adults in the United Kingdom (N=17) interested in using a health or well-being app participated in a semistructured interview to explore experiences of engaging and not engaging with these apps. Participants were recruited via social media platforms. Data were analyzed with the framework approach, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework, which are 2 widely used frameworks that incorporate a comprehensive set of behavioral influences.
resultsFactors that influence the capability of participants included available user guidance, statistical and health information, reduced cognitive load, well-designed reminders, self-monitoring features, features that help establish a routine, features that offer a safety net, and stepping-stone app characteristics. Tailoring, peer support, and embedded professional support were identified as important factors that enhance user opportunities for engagement with health and well-being apps. Feedback, rewards, encouragement, goal setting, action planning, self-confidence, and commitment were judged to be the motivation factors that affect engagement with health and well-being apps.
conclusionsMultiple factors were identified across all components of the COM-B model that may be valuable for the development of more engaging health and well-being apps. Engagement appears to be influenced primarily by features that provide user guidance, promote minimal cognitive load, support self-monitoring (capability), provide embedded social support (opportunity), and provide goal setting with action planning (motivation). This research provides recommendations for policy makers, industry, health care providers, and app developers for increasing effective engagement.
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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.