1. Does evidence support the use of mobile phone apps as a driver for promoting healthy lifestyles from a public health perspective? A systematic review of Randomized Control Trials
- Author
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Loredana Covolo, Silvana Castaldi, Marco Moneda, Umberto Gelatti, and Elisabetta Ceretti
- Subjects
Gerontology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,020205 medical informatics ,Reminder Systems ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Alternative medicine ,Health Promotion ,02 engineering and technology ,Scientific evidence ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,Efficay ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Intervention (counseling) ,Weight management ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,medicine ,Humans ,Mobile phone applications ,Healthy Lifestyle ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ,Public health ,business.industry ,Medicine (all) ,Healthy lifestyles ,Systematic review ,General Medicine ,Mobile Applications ,Self Care ,Health promotion ,Smoking cessation ,business ,Cell Phone - Abstract
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to find a scientific evidence on the efficacy of apps in promoting healthy lifestyles. Methods The research was carried out according to PRISMA Statement. Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar searches were carried out up to September 2016 focusing on randomized control trials (RCTs). Results Forty RCTs were selected. Most of the studies targeted weight management, PA and healthy eating (N = 35). A few RCTs focused on apps designed to sun protection, smoking cessation and alcohol consumption (N = 5). Only 10 RCTs (25%) found statistical difference between intervention and control groups for all the outcomes measured. Most of the studies had a short follow-up (65%, less than 6 months) and half of them a very small sample size (fewer than 100 subjects). Conclusion Overall, the evidence so far showed a modest efficacy of apps in health promotion. Practice implications There is a need to improve the overall quality of intervention studies focused on mobile apps in order to understand if they could became a valuable tool in support of health professionals and their efforts to promote education and health.
- Published
- 2017
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