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Background This research aims to assess the users' perceptions of usability and quality of mobile health applications used for promoting physical activity in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. A survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and distributed among the Saudi population through social media to assess the users' perceptions of using mobile applications to enhance physical activity. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions in six sections, including demographics (nine items), perceived usefulness (three items), perceived ease of use (three items), attitudes (three items), user experience (six items) and subjective quality (three items). All the participants were in Saudi Arabia and >15 y of age. Results A total of 195 m-Health users participated in the survey. Of the total participants, 25.1% were overweight and 21.0% were obese. The workout frequency of most users was rarely (32.3%) and three to four times a week (29.2%). In addition, 55.9% of the users agreed that the application they use served all fitness levels and >80% either agreed or strongly agreed that it was easy for them to learn how to use the application. More than 70% of users agreed or strongly agreed that the application enhanced their knowledge of workouts and physical activity and >90% would recommend the application to others. There were no differences identified between the male and female participants and younger (<40 y) and older (>40 y) participants with respect to perceived usefulness and ease of use, attitudes, experiences and subjective quality. However, significant differences were observed between participants <40 y and >40 y of age in terms of perceived ease of use of mHealth applications. Conclusion mHealth users across Saudi Arabia believe that the mHealth applications have good usability and quality factors. As a result, they can motivate people and help them achieve their goals in relation to physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main objective of this research was to investigate the opinion of the population of Saudi Arabia on the use and acceptability of the Wateen application. Methods: This research was a quantitative cross-sectional study in which an online questionnaire was distributed among the target population who were healthy people over 18 years of age that had used or known about the Wateen application. A total of 352 participants responded to the questionnaire. The data collection was carried out between November and December 2020. A basic descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The participants had used the Wateen app to follow the donation record, as a reminder of donation dates, to find lists and blood bank locations, to request blood donation, and to find donation requests on social media. After receiving the blood donation request from the Wateen app, majority of the respondents felt encouraged, motivated, and educated to donate blood, and about blood donation, respectively. Participants also indicated that the application helped them to find donors. Besides, majority of the respondents stated that the Wateen app had reduced the gap between blood donors and the need for blood. However, few participants expressed that they had not received or observed a post about the Wateen application on social media networks. Conclusion: The results of this research indicated that there is a general acceptance of the use of the Wateen app among the participants of this study. However, the importance of the Wateen app needs to be further advertised so that it can be used in the blood donation process in all regions of Saudi Arabia. In this way, the people of Saudi Arabia will be more aware of the importance of the Wateen app in the blood donation process, and the goal of the Ministry of Health of bridging the gap between donation centers and blood donors could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to review most of the existing free m-Health applications (Apps) that use the gamification approach to manage diabetes type 1 in both App and Google Play stores. Methods: Free mobile health applications "apps" that were related to diabetes mellitus have been identified in both App and Google Play stores. In order to cover all the mentioned applications, the following keywords, "game for type 1 diabetes" and "gamification for type 1 diabetes" were used in English and Arabic languages. All applications that were collected in the inclusion process were carefully analyzed, and the game name, game description, game features, game mechanics, game themes, and operating systems were recorded. Results: A total of eight gamified applications related to type 1 diabetes were identified. Seven of these applications were in English language and only one application was in Arabic language. The applications were categorized into three main categories based on the theme of the application. The categories were taking care of a character, quizzes, and the storytelling theme. Moreover, there was no application that included the social networking feature. Conclusion: This study highlighted the most important features of the free mobile health applications "apps" for diabetes type 1 available in Google Play and App stores that can contribute to enhance the self-management of the diabetes condition by patients in Saudi Arabia. The identified applications have important characteristics that can be used in the future for the care and self-control of type 1 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research aims to assess the users' perceptions of usability and quality of mobile health applications used for promoting physical activity in Saudi Arabia., Methods: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. A survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and distributed among the Saudi population through social media to assess the users' perceptions of using mobile applications to enhance physical activity. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions in six sections, including demographics (nine items), perceived usefulness (three items), perceived ease of use (three items), attitudes (three items), user experience (six items) and subjective quality (three items). All the participants were in Saudi Arabia and >15 y of age., Results: A total of 195 m-Health users participated in the survey. Of the total participants, 25.1% were overweight and 21.0% were obese. The workout frequency of most users was rarely (32.3%) and three to four times a week (29.2%). In addition, 55.9% of the users agreed that the application they use served all fitness levels and >80% either agreed or strongly agreed that it was easy for them to learn how to use the application. More than 70% of users agreed or strongly agreed that the application enhanced their knowledge of workouts and physical activity and >90% would recommend the application to others. There were no differences identified between the male and female participants and younger (<40 y) and older (>40 y) participants with respect to perceived usefulness and ease of use, attitudes, experiences and subjective quality. However, significant differences were observed between participants <40 y and >40 y of age in terms of perceived ease of use of mHealth applications., Conclusion: mHealth users across Saudi Arabia believe that the mHealth applications have good usability and quality factors. As a result, they can motivate people and help them achieve their goals in relation to physical activities., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)