Table 2.

The results of the content type and information sources of Google Play store applications

Content-type	General information on disease		Therapeutic		Prevention		Self-care and self-management		Pharmaceutical information		Signs and symptoms
	2018 N (F)*	2021 N (F)	2018 N (F)	2021 N (F)	2018 N (F)	2021 N (F)	2018 N (F)	2021 N (F)	2018 N (F)	2021 N (F)	2018 N (F)	2021 N (F)
Resource type
International guidelines	4 (23%)	7 (25%)	6 (35%)	6 (24%)	3 (17%)	7 (28%)	3 (17%)	3 (12%)	4 (23%)	4 (16%)	0	2 (8%)
National guidelines	5 (29%)	6 (35%)	9 (53%)	10 (40%)	5 (29%)	8 (32%)	4 (23%)	4 (16%)	4 (23%)	4 (16%)	0	2 (8%)
Medical Association Guidelines	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Regional guidelines	0	0	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	0	1 (4%)	0	0	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	0	0
Institution guidelines	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Meta analyses and systematic reviews	0	1 (4%)	0	1 (4%)	0	1 (4%)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Randomized controlled trials	0	0	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	0	1 (4%)	1 (6%)	0	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	0	0
**Other type of studies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Valid websites for institutions in that field	3 (17%)	2 (8%)	2 (12%)	2 (8%)	3 (17%)	4 (16%)	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	2 (12%)	2 (8%)	2 (12%)	2 (8%)
Specialized websites under the supervision of specialists in the field	1 (6%)	1 (4%)	1 (6%)	2 (8%)	1 (6%)	2 (8%)	0	1 (4%)	2 (12%)	2 (8%)	1 (6%)	3 (12%)
***Other information resources	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

*N (F): N = Number, F = Frequency

**Other types of studies: Observational studies, Cohort studies, Case–control studies, Cross sectional surveys, Case reports

***Other information resources: Laboratory research, Books, Expert opinions, News and non-specialized website, Wikipedia, Weblogs