A Systematic Assessment of the Quality of Smartphone Applications for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Michelle J. Gould; Chantelle Lin; Catharine M. Walsh

Gastro Hep Advances (Jan 2023)

A Systematic Assessment of the Quality of Smartphone Applications for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Michelle J. Gould,
Chantelle Lin,
Catharine M. Walsh

Affiliations

Michelle J. Gould: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chantelle Lin: SickKids Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Catharine M. Walsh: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the SickKids Research and Learning Institutes, Department of Paediatrics and the Wilson Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Catharine M. Walsh, MD, MEd, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Learning and Research Institutes, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics and the Wilson Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hospital for Sick Children, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 5
pp. 733 – 742

Abstract

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Background and Aims: Smartphone applications aimed at patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been downloaded more than 100,000 times, yet no systematic assessment of their quality has been completed. This study aimed to objectively assess the quality of GERD smartphone applications for patient education and disease management. Methods: The Apple App Store and Google Play Store were systematically searched for relevant applications. Two independent reviewers performed the application screening and eligibility assessment. Included applications were graded using the validated Mobile Application Rating Scale, which encompasses 4 domains (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information) as well as an overall application quality score. The associations between overall application quality, user ratings and download numbers were evaluated. Results: Of the 4816 unique applications identified, 46 met inclusion criteria (patient education = 37, disease management = 9). Mean overall application quality score was 3.02 ± 0.40 out of 5 (“acceptable”), with 61% (28/46) rated as “poor” (score 2.0–2.9). Applications scored highest for aesthetics (3.24 ± 0.48) and functionality (3.88 ± 0.37) and lowest for information (2.58 ± 0.64) and engagement (2.39 ± 0.65). Disease management applications were of significantly higher quality than education-focused applications (3.59 ± 0.38 vs 2.88 ± 0.26, P < .001). There was no correlation between graded quality and either user ratings or the number of downloads. Conclusion: While numerous smartphone applications exist to support patients with GERD, their quality is variable. Patient education applications are of particularly low quality. Our findings can help to inform the selection of applications by patients and guide clinicians’ recommendations. This study also highlights the need for higher-quality, evidence-informed applications aimed at GERD patient education.

Published in Gastro Hep Advances

ISSN: 2772-5723 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/gastro-hep-advances

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