Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35200235›Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of investigation in health, psychology and education2022

The Barriers and Facilitators to the Use of Lifestyle Apps: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies.

Habiba Shabir, Matthew D'Costa, Zain Mohiaddin, Zaeem Moti, Hamza Rashid, Daria Sadowska, Benyamin Alam, Benita Cox

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Factors influencing information overload among breast cancer patients in the information explosion era: a cross-sectional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  16. Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2024
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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

8 authors.

Habiba ShabirBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Matthew D'CostaBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Zain MohiaddinBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Zaeem MotiBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8411-507X
Hamza RashidBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4440-124X
Daria SadowskaBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Benyamin AlamThe Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Benita CoxBusiness School, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7581-6651

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMobile-health applications are revolutionising the way healthcare is being delivered. However, current research focusses on apps aimed at monitoring of conditions rather than the prevention of disease. Healthcare apps that prevent disease can be classified as lifestyle apps (LAs) and encompass mindfulness, exercise, and diet apps. In order for widespread implementation of these apps, perspectives of the user must be taken into consideration. Therefore, this systematic literature review identifies the barriers and facilitators to the use of LAs from a user's perspective.

objectiveTo both identify the facilitators to the use of LAs from a user perspective as well as identify the barriers to the use of LAs from a user perspective.

methodsA systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Qualitative articles focussed on a healthy non-diseased population were obtained. Two independent researchers coded the articles, and themes were identified.

resultsOur results found that there were five barriers and five facilitators to app use. The facilitators included (1) motivational aspects to the user, (2) effective marketing and communication, (3) user-centred design and content, (4) humanising technology, and (5) accessibility. The five barriers identified were (1) a non-conducive, (2) poor marketing and branding, (3) controlling and invasive, (4) disengaging content, and (5) inaccessibility.

conclusionsBy overcoming the barriers of LAs and encouraging the facilitators found, users are more likely to engage with this method of health promotion. Future research must be conducted on the barriers and facilitators to development and distribution of apps in order for LAs to be implemented in widespread healthcare practice.

Indexed as

applicationshealth interventionshealth preventionhealth promotionlifestyle appsmHealthmobile healthsmartphones

Identifiers

PMID35200235
PMCPMC8871456

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.