Frontiers in Psychiatry (Jul 2015)

Quality of smartphone apps related to panic disorder.

  • mathias eVan-Singer,
  • anne eChatton,
  • Yasser eKhazaal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00096
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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Smartphone apps have a growing role in health care. This study assessed the quality of English-language apps for panic disorder (PD) and compared paid and free apps. Keywords related to PD were entered into the Google Play Store search engine. Apps were assessed using the following quality indicators: accountability, interactivity, self-help score (the potential of smartphone apps to help users in daily life), and evidence-based content quality. The Brief DISCERN score and the criteria of the Health on the Net label were also used as content quality indicators as well as the number of downloads. Of 247 apps identified, 52 met all inclusion criteria. The content quality and self-help scores of these PD apps were poor. None of the assessed indicators were associated with payment status or number of downloads. Multiple linear regressions showed that the Brief DISCERN score significantly predicted content quality and self-help scores. Poor content quality and self-help scores of PD smartphone apps highlight the gap between their technological potential and the overall quality of available products

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