M ÉTODOS DE ESTUDIO DE LOS LT REG

To investigate the common features in nutrition-related mobile apps, 20 apps available in the Apple’s UK App Store were analysed. The number of apps reviewed is similar to Martínez-Pérez et al. (2013) study on analyzing apps on depression and diabetes. A content analysis (Krippendorff, 2012) was then used to categorise the features.

4.2.1 Method

An initial search of the Apple’s UK App Store online store for apps using the term

“nutrition” on 16^th December 2014. The search returned 100 apps. To reduce the number of apps, I ignored magazine apps, apps that needed to be purchased, or apps that were developed for a specific target user group (e.g. children or pregnant women). I downloaded the first 20 apps from the search list (see Appendix 10). I used each app for a week to familiarise myself with them and to understand the features.

4.2.3 Results

A total of 26 features were identified. The three main categories that emerged from the content analysis were: Settings, Main Functions, and Additional Features. The Main Functions was the largest category with 15 features, followed by Additional Features with nine features and Settings with two features. Table 4.1 shows the three main categories of features and the frequency of specific features found within each of the categories.

Settings are features that are required in order to use the app. For example, creating a user profile. In Settings, creating a user profile and setting one’s own goal (e.g. to gain, lose, or maintained weight) are the two features that repeatedly occurred in the apps. Main Functions are the main interactions between the user and the app. The user interacts with the app by entering data and in return, the app displays information associated with the

data. For example, by adding daily food intake the user can see their total intake of calories for the day. Additional Features are features that support the app’s functionality. This means that the user can still interact with the Main Functions of the app even though if they do not use these features (e.g. reading tips). In Additional Features, the ability to interact with other users through the app, share their progress (e.g. calories burned) via social medias or email, read tips, set reminders and do quizzes on nutrition are the features that were provided by the apps.

Table 4.1: Categories of app features and frequency of specific features

Category Features No of Apps

N (%)

Settings Create user profile 11 (55)

Set own goal 9 (45)

Main Functions

View history 9 (45)

Add food intake via database 8 (40)

Provide recipe 7 (35)

Calculate calories intake or calories burned 6 (30) Add own exercise type and duration 6 (30)

Add food intake via barcode 5 (25)

Add own liquid intake 4 (20)

Add grocery list 3 (15)

Add recipe 3 (15)

Auto calculate steps 2 (10)

Provide feedback (e.g. message) on user input 2 (10) Add own calorie count for the food intake 2 (10)

Add menu planner 2 (10)

Provide tips (on nutrition and weight loss) 9 (45) Ability to link to other device, app, or web (e.g.

blog)

9 (45)

Ability to share app content (e.g. calorie burned) 6 (30)

through email or social websites

Ability to communicate with other users within the app

6 (30)

Provide reminder option 2 (10)

Provide tips (how to use the app) 2 (10)

Provide quizzes on nutrition 1 (5)

Ability to change font size 1 (5)

In Main Functions, viewing performance and the ability to add food intake by searching within the app are the two most frequent features occurring in the apps. In related to the ability to add food intake, other features that were also found is adding food intake via barcodes, photos, and by providing own calorie intake. Other features related to monitoring food intake are providing recipes and meal planners, the ability to add one’s own recipes, and create shopping lists. In terms of monitoring physical activities, six apps allowed the user to add their exercise routine manually (e.g. brisk walk for 60 minutes), and two apps auto-calculated the number of steps per day. Six apps provided the ability to calculate the calorie intake or calories burned based on the data added to the app.

Only four apps included monitoring liquid intake by allowing the user to manually add the volume of liquid consumed or by a defined volume (e.g. user presses buttons labeled with the volume). None of the apps allowed the user to set a daily goal for the amount of liquid they should drink. In the nine apps that provided the ability to set one’s own goal, have goals to gain, lose, or maintain the current weight only.

4.2.4 Discussion

This analysis reports the 26 features in 20 nutrition apps available on Apple’s UK App Store. Although the apps analysed were not for specific target users, the features in Main Functions and Additional Features, such as view intake history or provide tips on nutrition, could overcome the causes of malnourishment in older adults.

As reported in Chapter 2 Section 2.3.3, studies include those by Gollub and Weddle (2004) and Christensson et al. (1999), found a lack of nutrition knowledge, low awareness in food related activities, lack of physical movement, and dehydration as some of the causes of

malnourishment in older adults. Only eight apps analysed had a feature to monitor food intake by any means for example via searching the database or by taking photos. Only nine of the apps provide knowledge on nutrition, particularly on how to lose weight. Although the apps for chosen for nutrition, seven apps included a feature to monitor physical activities. Six of these apps provided the ability to calculate the number of calories burned by performing the physical activities. Little attention was given in these apps to monitoring liquid intake, for example by allowing the user to set a daily goal for liquid intake. Of the two apps with reminders, only one app had a reminder to remind the user to drink.

4.3 Method for the Expert Evaluation of the MyDrinkApp