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Implementation of behavior change techniques in mobile applications for physical activity.
Chih-Hsiang Yang1, Jaclyn P Maher1, David E Conroy2
1Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|January 11, 2015
Summary
Physical activity apps use few behavior change techniques (BCTs), often focusing on social support and feedback rather than evidence-backed methods. This limits their potential for promoting health behavior change.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Mobile applications for physical activity are widely used and can promote behavior change.
- App marketing often underrepresents the actual behavior change techniques (BCTs) implemented within the apps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically analyze the implementation of BCTs in popular physical activity mobile applications through user inspection.
- To understand the range and frequency of BCTs present in these digital health tools.
Main Methods:
- A systematic user inspection was conducted on 100 top-ranked physical activity apps.
- Behavior change techniques were coded using a contemporary taxonomy.
Main Results:
- An average of 6.6 BCTs were identified per app, with many BCTs from the taxonomy absent.
- The most common BCTs included social support, information on social approval, instructions, demonstrations, and feedback.
- Latent class analysis showed apps primarily focused on support/feedback or support/education.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity apps currently implement a limited set of BCTs.
- There is a preference for BCTs with less established evidence over those with stronger efficacy, such as active self-monitoring.
- Social support is a common feature, with variations in BCTs mainly concerning education or feedback provision.
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