Table 1.
General characteristics of the included apps (N=51).
| Characteristics | Value | |
| Store, n (%) | ||
|
|
Apple App Store | 21 (41) |
|
|
Google Play | 30 (59) |
| User rating, mean (SD) | ||
|
|
Average rating | 4.4 (0.3) |
|
|
Average number of user ratings | 27,853 (12,339.9) |
| Health professional involvement, n (%) | 1 (2) | |
| Age (years), n (%) | ||
|
|
All age groups | 48 (94) |
|
|
Adults only (age>17) | 2 (4) |
|
|
Adults and adolescents (age>12) | 1 (2) |
| Number of app features (out of a maximum of 12), mean (SD) | 3.2 (1.7) | |
|
|
Allows sharing, n (%) | 40 (78) |
|
|
Allows password protection, n (%) | 2 (4) |
|
|
App community, n (%) | 17 (33) |
|
|
Calendarization, n (%) | 4 (8) |
|
|
Connects with peripheral devices, n (%) | 9 (18) |
|
|
Geographic information, n (%) | 10 (20) |
|
|
Has a back-office, n (%) | 7 (14) |
|
|
Has videos showing exercises or other information, n (%) | 4 (8) |
|
|
Needs internet to work, n (%) | 0 (0) |
|
|
Requires log-in, n (%) | 7 (14) |
|
|
Sends reminders, n (%) | 11 (22) |
|
|
Works in background, n (%) | 50 (98) |
| Type of measurements for physical activity (PA), n (%) | ||
|
|
Steps only | 2 (4) |
|
|
Time only | 2 (4) |
|
|
Steps and distance | 11 (22) |
|
|
Distance and time | 1 (2) |
|
|
Steps, distance, and time | 17 (33) |
|
|
Steps, distance, and velocity | 3 (6) |
|
|
Distance, time, and velocity | 6 (12) |
|
|
Steps, distance, time, and velocity | 9 (18) |
| Guidelines for PA, n (%) | ||
|
|
Follows guidelinesa | 18 (35) |
|
|
Does not follow guidelines | 33 (65) |
| Environment where apps measure PA, n (%) | ||
|
|
Indoors and outdoor | 49 (96) |
|
|
Outdoors only | 2 (4) |
aAll apps that followed the guidelines measured the number of steps.