Choosing between responsive-design websites versus mobile apps for your mobile behavioral intervention: presenting four case studies

Both mobile apps and responsive-design websites (web apps) can be used to deliver mobile health (mHealth) interventions, but it can be difficult to discern which to use in research. The goal of this paper is to present four case studies from behavioral interventions that developed either a mobile app or a web app for research and present an information table to help researchers determine which mobile option would work best for them. Four behavioral intervention case studies (two developed a mobile app, and two developed a web app) presented include time, cost, and expertise. Considerations for adopting a mobile app or a web app—such as time, cost, access to programmers, data collection, security needs, and intervention components— are presented. Future studies will likely integrate both mobile app and web app modalities. The considerations presented here can help guide researchers on which platforms to choose prior to starting an mHealth intervention.

[1]  Arlen C. Moller,et al.  Multiple behavior changes in diet and activity: a randomized controlled trial using mobile technology. , 2012, Archives of internal medicine.

[2]  D. Bates,et al.  In search of a few good apps. , 2014, JAMA.

[3]  N. Shivappa,et al.  Designing and developing a literature-derived, population-based dietary inflammatory index , 2013, Public Health Nutrition.

[4]  Michael N. Huhns,et al.  Social networks for improving healthy weight loss behaviors for overweight and obese adults: A randomized clinical trial of the social pounds off digitally (Social POD) mobile app , 2016, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[5]  Agneta Yngve,et al.  The epidemic of obesity publications, award to legend and more , 2010, Public Health Nutrition.

[6]  M. Huhns,et al.  A Mixed-Methods Approach to the Development, Refinement, and Pilot Testing of Social Networks for Improving Healthy Behaviors , 2016, JMIR human factors.

[7]  L. Lyzwinski,et al.  A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mobile Devices and Weight Loss with an Intervention Content Analysis , 2014, Journal of personalized medicine.

[8]  Sudakshina Lahiri,et al.  Targeting Parents for Childhood Weight Management: Development of a Theory-Driven and User-Centered Healthy Eating App , 2015, JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

[9]  D. Conroy,et al.  Behavior change techniques in top-ranked mobile apps for physical activity. , 2014, American journal of preventive medicine.

[10]  Judy Robertson,et al.  The Netflix prize, computer science outreach, and Japanese mobile phones , 2009, CACM.

[11]  Emily R Breton,et al.  Weight loss—there is an app for that! But does it adhere to evidence-informed practices? , 2011, Translational behavioral medicine.

[12]  Devin Mann,et al.  Evidence-based strategies in weight-loss mobile apps. , 2013, American journal of preventive medicine.

[13]  P. Krebs,et al.  Health App Use Among US Mobile Phone Owners: A National Survey , 2015, JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

[14]  Marci K Campbell,et al.  Pounds Off Digitally study: a randomized podcasting weight-loss intervention. , 2009, American journal of preventive medicine.

[15]  Julie A Kientz,et al.  Feature-level analysis of a novel smartphone application for smoking cessation , 2015, The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse.

[16]  K. Patrick,et al.  A Text Message–Based Intervention for Weight Loss: Randomized Controlled Trial , 2009, Journal of medical Internet research.

[17]  J. Brug,et al.  Apps to promote physical activity among adults: a review and content analysis , 2014, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[18]  Guy Shani,et al.  Evaluating Recommendation Systems , 2011, Recommender Systems Handbook.

[19]  Sara Wilcox,et al.  Mobile apps for pediatric obesity prevention and treatment, healthy eating, and physical activity promotion: just fun and games? , 2013, Translational behavioral medicine.

[20]  Ulf Ekelund,et al.  Objectively measured physical activity in four-year-old British children: a cross-sectional analysis of activity patterns segmented across the day , 2014, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[21]  Michael W. Beets,et al.  Making healthy eating and physical activity policy practice: the design and overview of a group randomized controlled trial in afterschool programs. , 2014, Contemporary clinical trials.

[22]  D. Tate,et al.  Tweets, Apps, and Pods: Results of the 6-Month Mobile Pounds Off Digitally (Mobile POD) Randomized Weight-Loss Intervention Among Adults , 2011, Journal of medical Internet research.

[23]  Greg Linden,et al.  Amazon . com Recommendations Item-to-Item Collaborative Filtering , 2001 .

[24]  Elizabeth J Lyons,et al.  Behavior Change Techniques Implemented in Electronic Lifestyle Activity Monitors: A Systematic Content Analysis , 2014, Journal of medical Internet research.

[25]  I. Ockene,et al.  A population-based dietary inflammatory index predicts levels of C-reactive protein in the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (SEASONS) , 2013, Public Health Nutrition.

[26]  Robert West,et al.  Comparative analysis of smoking cessation smartphone applications available in 2012 versus 2014 , 2016, Addictive behaviors.

[27]  Chi-Hong Tseng,et al.  Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application for Weight Loss Compared With Usual Care in Overweight Primary Care Patients , 2014, Annals of Internal Medicine.

[28]  A. Yngve.  Food fights, food peace, love and understanding – and the role of this journal , 2007, Public Health Nutrition.

[29]  J. L. Bender,et al.  A Lot of Action, But Not in the Right Direction: Systematic Review and Content Analysis of Smartphone Applications for the Prevention, Detection, and Management of Cancer , 2013, Journal of medical Internet research.

[30]  Audie A Atienza,et al.  Mobile health technology evaluation: the mHealth evidence workshop. , 2013, American journal of preventive medicine.

[31]  Michael J. Pazzani,et al.  Content-Based Recommendation Systems , 2007, The Adaptive Web.

[32]  S. Mohorovicic.  Implementing responsive web design for enhanced web presence , 2013, 2013 36th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO).