Table 3.
Technical features and quality assurance of included apps (N=58).
| Characteristics | Android (n=29), n (%) | iOS (n=29), n (%) | Total (N=58), n (%) | |||||
| App credibility | ||||||||
|
|
App content referenced or signed by the author | 17 (59) | 13 (45) | 30 (52) | ||||
|
|
Includes disclaimer: information does not replace health care provider’s advice | 11 (38) | 13 (45) | 24 (41) | ||||
|
|
App development team included the following | |||||||
|
|
|
Government agency or academic institution or NGOa | 4 (14) | 8 (28) | 12 (21) | |||
|
|
|
Health care professional | 11 (38) | 14 (48) | 25 (43) | |||
|
|
|
Not declared | 14 (48) | 7 (24) | 21 (36) | |||
| Data privacy | ||||||||
|
|
Authentication required to access app | 13 (45) | 21 (72) | 34 (59) | ||||
|
|
App includes a privacy policy | 23 (79) | 22 (76) | 45 (78) | ||||
|
|
|
Presented before account creation | 14 (61) | 10 (45) | 24 (53) | |||
|
|
|
Explains how data are collected | 23 (100) | 22 (100) | 45 (100) | |||
|
|
|
Shares information with third party providers | 20 (87) | 20 (91) | 40 (89) | |||
|
|
|
Contact details of data protection officer provided | 4 (17) | 9 (41) | 13 (29) | |||
|
|
App allows users to share data | 6 (21) | 7 (24) | 13 (22) | ||||
| In-app advertisements (for details, please see text in this section) | 8 (28) | 2 (7) | 10 (17) | |||||
aNGO: nongovernmental organization.