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Mann D, Riddell L, Lim K, et al. Mobile Phone App Aimed at Improving Iron Intake and Bioavailability in Premenopausal Women: A Qualitative Evaluation. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015;3(3):e92doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4300.
Mann, D., Riddell, L., Lim, K., Byrne, L. K., Nowson, C., Rigo, M., Szymlek-Gay, E. A., & Booth, A. O. (2015). Mobile Phone App Aimed at Improving Iron Intake and Bioavailability in Premenopausal Women: A Qualitative Evaluation. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(3), e92. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.4300
Mann, Davina, et al. "Mobile Phone App Aimed at Improving Iron Intake and Bioavailability in Premenopausal Women: A Qualitative Evaluation." JMIR mHealth and uHealth vol. 3,3 (2015): e92. doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.4300
Mann D, Riddell L, Lim K, Byrne LK, Nowson C, Rigo M, Szymlek-Gay EA, Booth AO. Mobile Phone App Aimed at Improving Iron Intake and Bioavailability in Premenopausal Women: A Qualitative Evaluation. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Sep 28;3(3):e92. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4300. PMID: 26416479; PMCID: PMC4704887.
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JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Sep 28;3(3):e92. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4300.

Mobile Phone App Aimed at Improving Iron Intake and Bioavailability in Premenopausal Women: A Qualitative Evaluation.

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Davina Mann, Lynn Riddell, Karen Lim, Linda K Byrne, Caryl Nowson, Manuela Rigo, Ewa A Szymlek-Gay, Alison O Booth

Affiliations

  1. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. [email protected].

PMID: 26416479 PMCID: PMC4704887 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.4300

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low iron intake can lead to iron deficiency, which can result in impaired health and iron-deficiency anemia. A mobile phone app, combining successful dietary strategies to increase bioavailable iron with strategies for behavior change, such as goal setting, monitoring, feedback, and resources for knowledge acquisition, was developed with the aim to increase bioavailable iron intake in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the content, usability, and acceptability of a mobile phone app designed to improve intake of bioavailable dietary iron.

METHODS: Women aged 18-50 years with an Android mobile phone were invited to participate. Over a 2-week period women were asked to interact with the app. Following this period, semistructured focus groups with participants were conducted. Focus groups were audio recorded and analyzed via an inductive open-coding method using the qualitative analysis software NVivo 10. Themes were identified and frequency of code occurrence was calculated.

RESULTS: Four focus groups (n=26) were conducted (age range 19-36 years, mean 24.7, SD 5.2). Two themes about the app's functionality were identified (frequency of occurrence in brackets): interface and design (134) and usability (86). Four themes about the app's components were identified: goal tracker (121), facts (78), photo diary (40), and games (46). A number of suggestions to improve the interface and design of the app were provided and will inform the ongoing development of the app.

CONCLUSIONS: This research indicates that participants are interested in iron and their health and are willing to use an app utilizing behavior change strategies to increase intake of bioavailable iron. The inclusion of information about the link between diet and health, monitoring and tracking of the achievement of dietary goals, and weekly reviews of goals were also seen as valuable components of the app and should be considered in mobile health apps aimed at adult women.

Keywords: behavior therapy; cell phones; focus groups; goals; iron; mobile apps; telemedicine

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