ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2022
Multipurpose Mobile Apps for Mental Health in Chinese App Stores: Content Analysis and Quality Evaluation.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Digital mental health apps for young people in Europe: A systematic cross-country analysis.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Preventing and Managing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Quality Assessment and Content Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Mobile-Based Ecological Momentary Interventions for Grief in China and Switzerland: Protocol for a Collaborative and Iterative Qualitative App Development Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Evaluation of Mobile Intermittent Fasting Applications in Chinese App Stores: Quality Evaluations and Content Analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- Users' Needs for Mental Health Apps: Quality Evaluation Using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Article
- Quality and Privacy Policy Compliance of Mental Health Care Apps in China: Cross-Sectional Evaluation Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Depression Self-Care Apps' Characteristics and Applicability to Older Adults: Systematic Assessment.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Assessment of Eye Care Apps for Children and Adolescents Based on the Mobile App Rating Scale: Content Analysis and Quality Assessment.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Article
- What Chinese Women Seek in Mental Health Apps: Insights from AnalyzingHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Quality Assessment of Smartphone Medication Management Apps in France: Systematic Search.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Article
- Assessing the Quality, Privacy, and Security of Breast Cancer Apps for Arabic Speakers: Systematic Search and Review of Smartphone Apps.JMIR cancer · 2024Article
- Mental Health Mobile Apps in the French App Store: Assessment Study of Functionality and Quality.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental disorders impose varying degrees of burden on patients and their surroundings. However, people are reluctant to take the initiative to seek mental health services because of the uneven distribution of resources and stigmatization. Thus, mobile apps are considered an effective way to eliminate these obstacles and improve mental health awareness.
objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the quality, function, privacy measures, and evidence-based and professional background of multipurpose mental health apps in Chinese commercial app stores.
methodsA systematic search was conducted on iOS and Android platforms in China to identify multipurpose mental health apps. Two independent reviewers evaluated the identified mobile apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Each app was downloaded, and the general characteristics, privacy and security measures, development background, and functional characteristics of each app were evaluated.
resultsA total of 40 apps were analyzed, of which 35 (87.5%) were developed by companies and 33 (82.5%) provided links to access the privacy policy; 21 (52.5%) apps did not mention the involvement of relevant professionals or the guidance of a scientific basis in the app development process. The main built-in functions of these apps include psychological education (38/40, 95%), self-assessment (34/40, 85%), and counseling (33/40, 82.5%). The overall quality average MARS score of the 40 apps was 3.54 (SD 0.39), and the total score was between 2.96 and 4.30. The total MARS score was significantly positively correlated with the scores of each subscale (r=0.62-0.88, P<.001). However, the user score of the app market was not significantly correlated with the total MARS score (r=0.17, P=.33).
conclusionsThe quality of multipurpose mental health apps in China's main app market is generally good. However, health professionals are less involved in the development of these apps, and the privacy protection policy of the apps also needs to be described in more detail. This study provides a reference for the development of multipurpose mental health apps.
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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.