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Use of Behavior Change Techniques and Quality of Commercially Available Inflammatory Bowel Disease Apps

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Abstract

Background

Inclusion of evidence-based behavior change techniques (e.g., self-monitoring) in mobile health apps has the potential to promote adherence to inflammatory bowel disease treatment. While inflammatory bowel disease management apps exist, the extent to which they incorporate behavior change techniques remains unknown.

Aims

The present study systematically evaluated the content and quality of free, commercially available inflammatory bowel disease management apps.

Methods

Apps were identified using a systematic search of the Apple App and Google Play stores. Apps were evaluated using Abraham and Michie’s taxonomy of 26 behavior change techniques. A literature search was conducted to identify behavior change techniques specific and relevant for people with inflammatory bowel disease. App quality was assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale with scores ranging from 1 (Inadequate) to 5 (Excellent).

Results

A total of 51 inflammatory bowel disease management apps were evaluated. Apps included 0–16 behavior change techniques (Mean = 4.55) and 0–10 inflammatory bowel disease management behavior change techniques (Mean = 3.43). App quality ranged from 2.03 to 4.62 (Mean = 3.39) out of 5.00. Two apps, My IBD Care: Crohn’s & Colitis and MyGiHealth GI Symptom Tracker, included the highest number of overall and inflammatory bowel disease management behavior change techniques along with high-quality scores. Bezzy IBD was the only app with a high number of overall and inflammatory bowel disease management behavior change techniques with a primary focus on social support/change.

Conclusion

Most inflammatory bowel disease management apps reviewed included evidence-based inflammatory bowel disease management behavior change techniques.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health [T32 HD 68223-7 to A.E.N.] and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health [K23 HL139992 to R.R.R.].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA

    Amy E. Noser

  2. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Brittany D. Lancaster, Kevin A. Hommel, Caroline M. Roberts, Jessica A. King, Elizabeth Alt & Rachelle R. Ramsey

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Kevin A. Hommel & Rachelle R. Ramsey

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Emily M. Fredericks

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  1. Amy E. Noser
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  2. Brittany D. Lancaster
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  3. Kevin A. Hommel
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  4. Caroline M. Roberts
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  5. Jessica A. King
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  6. Elizabeth Alt
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  7. Emily M. Fredericks
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  8. Rachelle R. Ramsey
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Contributions

AEN [study conceptualization & design, data acquisition, analysis, & interpretation, drafting, revising, & review of manuscript], BDL [data acquisition & interpretation, revising & review of manuscript], KAH [study conceptualization & design, data interpretation, revising & review of manuscript], CMR [data acquisition, revising & review of manuscript], JAK [data acquisition, revising & review of manuscript], EA [data acquisition, revising & review of manuscript], EMF [study conceptualization, data interpretation, revising & review of manuscript], and RRR [study conceptualization & design, data analysis & interpretation, drafting, revising, & review of manuscript].

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Correspondence to Amy E. Noser.

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Noser, A.E., Lancaster, B.D., Hommel, K.A. et al. Use of Behavior Change Techniques and Quality of Commercially Available Inflammatory Bowel Disease Apps. Dig Dis Sci 68, 2908–2920 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-023-07884-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-023-07884-7

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