Rating the Quality of Smartphone Apps Related to Shoulder Pain: Systematic Search and Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale

Jonathon M R Agnew; Chris Nugent; Catherine E Hanratty; Elizabeth Martin; Daniel P Kerr; Joseph G McVeigh

doi:10.2196/34339

Rating the Quality of Smartphone Apps Related to Shoulder Pain: Systematic Search and Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale

JMIR Form Res. 2022 May 26;6(5):e34339. doi: 10.2196/34339.

Authors

Jonathon M R Agnew¹, Chris Nugent², Catherine E Hanratty¹, Elizabeth Martin², Daniel P Kerr¹, Joseph G McVeigh³

Affiliations

¹ Discipline in Physiotherapy, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.
² Discipline in Computing, School of Computing, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.
³ Discipline in Physiotherapy, School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

PMID: 35617008
PMCID: PMC9185331
DOI: 10.2196/34339

Abstract

Background: The successful rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain requires more than medical input alone. Conservative treatment, including physiotherapy and exercise therapy, can be an effective way of decreasing pain associated with musculoskeletal pain. However, face-to-face appointments are currently not feasible. New mobile technologies, such as mobile health technologies in the form of an app for smartphones, can be a solution to this problem. In many cases, these apps are not backed by scientific literature. Therefore, it is important that they are reviewed and quality assessed.

Objective: The aim is to evaluate and measure the quality of apps related to shoulder pain by using the Mobile App Rating Scale.

Methods: This study included 25 free and paid apps-8 from the Apple Store and 17 from the Google Play Store. A total of 5 reviewers were involved in the evaluation process. A descriptive analysis of the Mobile App Rating Scale results provided a general overview of the quality of the apps.

Results: Overall, app quality was generally low, with an average star rating of 1.97 out of 5. The best scores were in the "Functionality" and "Aesthetics" sections, and apps were scored poorer in the "Engagement" and "Information" sections. The apps were also rated poorly in the "Subjective Quality" section.

Conclusions: In general, the apps were well built technically and were aesthetically pleasing. However, the apps failed to provide quality information to users, which resulted in a lack of engagement. Most of the apps were not backed by scientific literature (24/25, 96%), and those that contained scientific references were vastly out-of-date. Future apps would need to address these concerns while taking simple measures to ensure quality control.

Keywords: Mobile App Rating Scale; mHealth; mobile app; mobile phone; shoulder pain.

©Jonathon M R Agnew, Chris Nugent, Catherine E Hanratty, Elizabeth Martin, Daniel P Kerr, Joseph G McVeigh. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 26.05.2022.