TY - JOUR
T1 - Utilization and content evaluation of mobile applications for pregnancy, birth, and child care
AU - Lee, Yeonkyu
AU - Moon, Mikyung
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Korean Society of Medical Informatics.
PY - 2016/4
Y1 - 2016/4
N2 - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the use of mobile applications about pregnancy, birth, and child care among pregnant women and to review the characteristics, contents, and credibility of the applications used by these women. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and was conducted using a survey method. One hundred and ninety-three pregnant women participated in this study. The questionnaire was developed to examine the pattern and reasons for pregnancy-related application usage. The 47 mobile apps used by participants were reviewed and categorized based on functions and developers. The credibility of the information provided by the mobile applications was evaluated using a structured measurement. Results: Fifty-five percent of the participants were using mobile apps related to pregnancy, birth, and/or child care. First-time mothers used the apps significantly more often than women who were pregnant for the second time. Women who had used a smartphone for a longer period of time were more likely to use apps related to pregnancy, birth, and/or child care. The most frequently-used information concerned signs of risk and disease during pregnancy. Experts’ quick opinions and Q&A formats related to diet and medication administration during pregnancy were the women’s most cited need for content in applications. Information was the most common function of the apps. In the evaluation of information credibility, the ‘information source’ category had the lowest score. Conclusions: The results showed that applications related to pregnancy, birth, and child care have become an important information source for pregnant women. To fulfill the needs of users, credible applications related to pregnancy, birth, and child care should be developed and managed by qualified healthcare professionals.
AB - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the use of mobile applications about pregnancy, birth, and child care among pregnant women and to review the characteristics, contents, and credibility of the applications used by these women. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and was conducted using a survey method. One hundred and ninety-three pregnant women participated in this study. The questionnaire was developed to examine the pattern and reasons for pregnancy-related application usage. The 47 mobile apps used by participants were reviewed and categorized based on functions and developers. The credibility of the information provided by the mobile applications was evaluated using a structured measurement. Results: Fifty-five percent of the participants were using mobile apps related to pregnancy, birth, and/or child care. First-time mothers used the apps significantly more often than women who were pregnant for the second time. Women who had used a smartphone for a longer period of time were more likely to use apps related to pregnancy, birth, and/or child care. The most frequently-used information concerned signs of risk and disease during pregnancy. Experts’ quick opinions and Q&A formats related to diet and medication administration during pregnancy were the women’s most cited need for content in applications. Information was the most common function of the apps. In the evaluation of information credibility, the ‘information source’ category had the lowest score. Conclusions: The results showed that applications related to pregnancy, birth, and child care have become an important information source for pregnant women. To fulfill the needs of users, credible applications related to pregnancy, birth, and child care should be developed and managed by qualified healthcare professionals.
KW - Birth
KW - Child care
KW - Mobile applications
KW - Pregnant women
KW - Smartphone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84966309445&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4258/hir.2016.22.2.73
DO - 10.4258/hir.2016.22.2.73
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84966309445
SN - 2093-3681
VL - 22
SP - 73
EP - 80
JO - Healthcare Informatics Research
JF - Healthcare Informatics Research
IS - 2
ER -