Content and functionality features of voiding diary applications for mobile devices in Brazil: a descriptive analysis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Digital Health
• Mobile Applications

Background:

• Voiding diaries are essential tools for assessing lower urinary tract symptoms.
• Mobile applications offer a convenient platform for voiding diary completion.
• Evaluating the quality and content of free voiding diary apps is crucial for clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a descriptive analysis of free mobile voiding diary applications.
• To compare these applications based on their quality and features.
• To identify variations in the comprehensiveness of voiding diary topics covered by apps.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search was performed on iTunes and Google Play for voiding diary apps.
• Apps were included if free, specific to voiding diaries, and available in selected languages.
• Quantitative analysis assessed features and voiding diary topics, with the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) used for quality evaluation.

Main Results:

• Out of 55 eligible apps, 16 were analyzed.
• No app included all 11 essential voiding diary topics; the median number of features was 6.
• Key topics like "incontinence episodes" (8 apps) and "nocturia" (5 apps) were inconsistently present, with app scores ranging from 1.7 to 4.5.

Conclusions:

• Significant variation exists in the content and features of free mobile voiding diary apps.
• The selection of a voiding diary app should be guided by the specific clinical needs and priorities of patients and healthcare professionals.
• Further development could focus on creating apps that encompass a more comprehensive set of voiding diary parameters.