Mobile Apps for Allergies: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15611/nit.2024.40.08Keywords:
mHealth, food allergies, mobile apps, MARSAbstract
Aim: With the growing reliance on mobile apps by individuals with allergies and food intolerances, this study aimed to evaluate their quality and usability. Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), we assessed allergy-related apps available on Google Play and the AppStore.
Methodology: Using the PRISMA elimination method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), three apps were selected from the available options: Soosee – Allergy & Vegan Scan, The Gluten Free Scanner, and Eat Smart Kiwi: Food Diary. The respondents used these apps for a period of two weeks. Next, the researchers completed the MARS questionnaire, comprising five sections. The apps were evaluated in the categories of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information content, and subjective quality assessment.
Results: The study revealed that one of the apps, namely Soosee – Allergy & Vegan Scan, received the highest ratings among the apps evaluated, surpassing Eat Smart Kiwi: Food Diary and The Gluten Free Scanner, which received the lowest rating. Analysis of user preferences indicated that the aesthetics of the interface play a crucial role in the perception of mHealth mobile apps, particularly those related to food allergies. An attractive graphical interface significantly impacts user satisfaction and engagement. Notably, the ratings given by the study participants did not align with those seen on Google Play and the AppStore, suggesting potential differences in user expectations and needs depending on usage context and the more detailed assessment conducted in this study. Implications and recommendations: With numerous mobile apps available, quality assessment is crucial as users often lack the knowledge to evaluate them effectively. While mHealth apps have the potential to improve daily life for individuals with allergies, they must offer an intuitive design, verified information, and user-friendly interfaces to meet expectations.
Originality/value: This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of allergy-related mobile apps using a standardized assessment tool (MARS), offering a more structured analysis than general user ratings. By highlighting discrepancies between expert-based evaluations and user reviews, the research underscores the need for more transparent quality indicators in mHealth applications.
Downloads
References
Byambasuren, O., Sanders, S., Beller, E., & Glasziou, P. (2018). Prescribable mHealth Apps Identified from an Overview of Systematic Reviews. NPJ Digital Medicine, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/S41746-018-0021-9
Carpenter, D., Grimmer, J., & Lomazoff, E. (2010). Approval Regulation and Endogenous Consumer Confidence: Theory and Analogies to Licensing, Safety, and Financial Regulation. Regulation & Governance, 4(4), 383-407. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-5991.2010.01091.X
Cummings, E., Borycki, E. M., & Roehrer, E. (2013). Issues and Considerations for Healthcare Consumers Using Mobile Applications. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 183, 227-231. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-203-5-227
Furmankiewicz, M., Sołtysik-Piorunkiewicz, A., & Ziuziański, P. (2016). Systemy mobilne w e-zdrowiu. https://sbc.org.pl/dlibra/publication/291883/edition/275859
Grainger, R., Townsley, H., White, B., Langlotz, T., & Taylor, W. J. (2017). Apps for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis to Monitor Their Disease Activity: A Review of Apps for Best Practice and Quality. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.2196/MHEALTH.6956
Hopia, H., Punna, M., Laitinen, T., & Latvala, E. (2015). A Patient As a Self-Manager of Their Personal Data on Health and Disease with New Technology − Challenges for Nursing Education. Nurse Education Today, 35(12), e1–e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.08.017
Jafleh, E. A., Alnaqbi, F. A., Almaeeni, H. A., Faqeeh, S., Alzaabi, M. A., & Al Zaman, K. (2024). The Role of Wearable
Devices in Chronic Disease Monitoring and Patient Care: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus, 16(9), e68921. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.68921
Li, Y., Ding, J., Wang, Y., Tang, C., & Zhang, P. (2019). Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the China App Store: Assessment of Functionality and Quality. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(7), e13261. https://doi.org/10.2196/13261
Licari, A., Manti, S., Marseglia, A., Brambilla, I., Votto, M., Castagnoli, R., Leonardi, S., & Marseglia, G. L. (2019). Food Allergies: Current and Future Treatments. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/MEDICINA55050120
Loerbroks, A., Tolksdorf, S. J., Wagenmann, M., & Smith, H. (2019). Food Allergy Knowledge, Attitudes and Their Determinants Among Restaurant Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study. PloS One, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0214625
Lyzwinski, L. N., Edirippulige, S., Caffery, L., & Bambling, M. (2019). Mindful Eating Mobile Health Apps: Review and Appraisal. JMIR Mental Health, 6(8). https://doi.org/10.2196/12820
Mandracchia, F., Llauradó, E., Tarro, L., Valls, R. M., & Solà, R. (2020). Mobile Phone Apps for Food Allergies or Intolerances in App Stores: Systematic Search and Quality Assessment Using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8(9), e18339. https://doi.org/10.2196/18339
Mosa, A. S. M., Yoo, I., & Sheets, L. (2012). A Systematic Review of Healthcare Applications for Smartphones. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-12-67
Nwaru, B. I., Hickstein, L., Panesar, S. S., Muraro, A., Werfel, T., Cardona, V., Dubois, A. E. J., Halken, S., Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K., Poulsen, L. K., Roberts, G., Van Ree, R., Vlieg-Boerstra, B. J., & Sheikh, A. (2014). The Epidemiology of Food Allergy in Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 69(1), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1111/ALL.12305
Oreskovic, N. M., Huang, T. T., & Moon, J. (2015). Integrating mHealth and Systems Science: A Combination Approach to Prevent and Treat Chronic Health Conditions. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.2196/MHEALTH.4150
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJ.N71
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers, Amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 Text with EEA Relevance.
Salazar, A., de Sola, H., Failde, I., & Moral-Munoz, J. A. (2018). Measuring the Quality of Mobile Apps for the Management of Pain: Systematic Search and Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 6(10). https://doi.org/10.2196/10718
Sicherer, S. H., & Sampson, H. A. (2018). Food Allergy: A Review and Update on Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 141(1), 41-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JACI.2017.11.003
Silva, B. M. C., Rodrigues, J. J. P. C., de la Torre Díez, I., López-Coronado, M., & Saleem, K. (2015a). Mobile-Health: A Review of Current State in 2015. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 56, 265-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBI.2015.06.003
Stoyanov, S. R., Hides, L., Kavanagh, D. J., Zelenko, O., Tjondronegoro, D., & Mani, M. (2015). Mobile App Rating Scale: A New Tool for Assessing the Quality of Health Mobile Apps. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 3(1), e3422. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.3422
Tang, R., Wang, Z. X., Ji, C. M., Leung, P. S. C., Woo, E., Chang, C., Wang, M., Liu, B., Wei, J. F., & Sun, J. L. (2019). Regional Differences in Food Allergies. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 57(1), 98-110. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12016-018-8725-9
Theonest, N. O., Ngowi, K., Kussaga, E. R., Lyimo, A., Kuchaka, D., Kiwelu, I., Machuve, D., Vianney, J.-M., Reboud, J., Mmbaga,
B. T., Cooper, J. M., & Buza, J. (2024). Status and Future Prospects for Mobile Phone-Enabled Diagnostics in Tanzania. PLOS Digital Health, 3(8), e0000565. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000565
Tonkin, E., Brimblecombe, J., & Wycherley, T. P. (2017). Characteristics of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition Improvement in Community Settings: A Scoping Review. Advances in Nutrition, 8(2), 308-322. https://doi.org/10.3945/AN.116.013748
Tuck, C. J., Biesiekierski, J. R., Schmid-Grendelmeier, P., & Pohl, D. (2019). Food Intolerances. Nutrients, 11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/NU11071684
West, J. H., Belvedere, L. M., Andreasen, R., Frandsen, C., Cougar Hall, P., & Crookston, B. T. (2017). Controlling Your “App” Etite: How Diet and Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps Lead to Behavior Change. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 5(7). https://doi.org/10.2196/MHEALTH.7410
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Agata Olszar, Ewelina Książek, Klaudia Konikowska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
