JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite the popularity of maternal infant health (MIH) mobile apps, ongoing consumer engagement and sustained app usage remains a barrier. Few studies have examined user experiences or perceived benefits of MIH app use from consumer perspectives.

Objective:

To assess user self-reported experiences with MIH apps, perceived benefits, and general feedback by analyzing publicly available user reviews on two popular app stores, Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative assessment of publicly available user reviews (n=2422) sampled from 75 MIH apps designed to provide health education or decision-making support to pregnant women or parents and caregivers of infants. The reviews were coded and analyzed using a general inductive qualitative content analysis approach.

Results:

Three major themes included: (i) app functionality, where users discuss app features/functions; (ii) technical aspects; where users talk about technology-based aspects of an app; and (iii) app content, where users specifically focus on the app content and the information it provides. Six minor themes included: (i) patterns of usage, where users highlight the frequency and type of use; (ii) social support, where users talk about receiving social support from friends/family and community of other users; (iii) app cost, where users talk about the cost of an app within the context of being cost-effective or potential waste of money; (iv) app comparisons, where users compare one app with others available in app stores; (v) assists in healthcare, where users specifically highlight the role of an app in offering clinical assistance; (vi) customer care support, where users specifically talk about their interaction with the app customer care support team.

Conclusions:

Users overall tend to value apps that are of low cost, preferably free, with high quality content, superior features, enhanced technical aspects, and user-friendly interfaces. Users also find app developer responsiveness to be integral as it offers them an opportunity to engage in the app development and delivery process. These findings may be beneficial for app developers in designing better apps, as currently no best-practice guidelines exist for the app environment.