Table 1.

The inclusion and exclusion criteria of apps are presented based on a framework developed by Ramakrishnan et al [22].

Levels of consideration	Framework questions	Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
App origin	Where does the app come from? Who is the developer, and what is the country of origin?	Health apps that were available at app stores during our search period	No restrictions were made on the country of origin, app’s language, or developer type.
App accessibility	On what platforms is the app available? How much does it cost, and what accessibility measures are in place for a user?	Health apps that were available in the Apple Store and Google Play	No restrictions were made on the app’s pricing or other accessibility measures for gaining access to the app’s content such as requirement of national identification codes, local country phone numbers, or research study codes.
App features	What features does the app offer, and what kind of information is it providing around COVID-19?	Health apps that were related to combating COVID-19	Health apps were excluded if they were only dedicated to respiratory or infectious diseases other than COVID-19, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome or asthma without any reference to COVID-19.
Privacy and security	Are data use and security measures specified? What kind of data are collected or shared?	Health apps that were able to collect or share data	No restrictions were made on the privacy and security measures (eg, consent forms or privacy compliance standards) or kind of data collected or shared (eg, personal information or users’ locations).
Clinical integration	For whom is it intended: patients, self-help, or essential workers?	Health apps that were available to the public	No restrictions were made on the app’s intended users.