Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35617008›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2022

Rating the Quality of Smartphone Apps Related to Shoulder Pain: Systematic Search and Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale.

Jonathon M R Agnew, Chris Nugent, Catherine E Hanratty, Elizabeth Martin, Daniel P Kerr, Joseph G McVeigh

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Jonathon M R AgnewDiscipline in Physiotherapy, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0883-7748
Chris NugentDiscipline in Computing, School of Computing, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-8669
Catherine E HanrattyDiscipline in Physiotherapy, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2453-6021
Elizabeth MartinDiscipline in Computing, School of Computing, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7276-055X
Daniel P KerrDiscipline in Physiotherapy, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4686-3058
Joseph G McVeighDiscipline in Physiotherapy, School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0789-1419
University of Ulster · GBUniversity College Cork · IE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe successful rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain requires more than medical input alone. Conservative treatment, including physiotherapy and exercise therapy, can be an effective way of decreasing pain associated with musculoskeletal pain. However, face-to-face appointments are currently not feasible. New mobile technologies, such as mobile health technologies in the form of an app for smartphones, can be a solution to this problem. In many cases, these apps are not backed by scientific literature. Therefore, it is important that they are reviewed and quality assessed.

objectiveThe aim is to evaluate and measure the quality of apps related to shoulder pain by using the Mobile App Rating Scale.

methodsThis study included 25 free and paid apps-8 from the Apple Store and 17 from the Google Play Store. A total of 5 reviewers were involved in the evaluation process. A descriptive analysis of the Mobile App Rating Scale results provided a general overview of the quality of the apps.

resultsOverall, app quality was generally low, with an average star rating of 1.97 out of 5. The best scores were in the "Functionality" and "Aesthetics" sections, and apps were scored poorer in the "Engagement" and "Information" sections. The apps were also rated poorly in the "Subjective Quality" section.

conclusionsIn general, the apps were well built technically and were aesthetically pleasing. However, the apps failed to provide quality information to users, which resulted in a lack of engagement. Most of the apps were not backed by scientific literature (24/25, 96%), and those that contained scientific references were vastly out-of-date. Future apps would need to address these concerns while taking simple measures to ensure quality control.

Indexed as

mHealthmobile appMobile App Rating Scalemobile phoneshoulder pain

Identifiers

PMID35617008
PMCPMC9185331
OpenAlexW4282941004

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.