Smartphone Applications to Support Sleep Self-Management: Review and Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Sleep science
• Human-computer interaction

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) tools, particularly smartphone applications, offer potential for enhancing sleep self-management.
• The proliferation of these tools necessitates an evaluation of their current capabilities and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and assess the functionalities of available consumer mHealth apps designed for sleep self-management.
• To evaluate the quality and features of these sleep-focused applications.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of four major mobile app stores was conducted using relevant sleep-related keywords.
• Apps were evaluated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality criteria.

Main Results:

• Out of 2,431 apps, 73 met inclusion criteria; the median MARS score was 3.1/5, with 58% meeting minimum acceptability.
• Apps averaged 7 functions, with recording present in all, but intervention features in only eight.
• Data collection varied, with 45% using sensors, 37% manual entry, and 19% supporting both.

Conclusions:

• Few mHealth apps for sleep self-management meet established quality, content, and functionality standards.
• The limited number of validation studies for these apps raises concerns about their clinical utility.
• Further research and development are needed to improve the effectiveness and reliability of sleep management apps.