Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36222791›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2022

Separating Features From Functionality in Vaccination Apps: Computational Analysis.

George Shaw, Devaki Nadkarni, Eric Phann, Rachel Sielaty, Madeleine Ledenyi, Razaan Abnowf, Qian Xu, Paul Arredondo, Shi Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

George ShawPublic Health Sciences, School of Data Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5508-3139
Devaki NadkarniPublic Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2326-7993
Eric PhannDepartment of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9055-7440
Rachel SielatyDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0044-8185
Madeleine LedenyiPublic Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0575-9919
Razaan AbnowfDepartment of Global Studies, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8587-6436
Qian XuSchool of Communications, Elon University, Elon, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2354-0208
Paul ArredondoSchool of Data Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9006-1653
Shi ChenPublic Health Sciences, School of Data Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2316-111X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSome latest estimates show that approximately 95% of Americans own a smartphone with numerous functions such as SMS text messaging, the ability to take high-resolution pictures, and mobile software apps. Mobile health apps focusing on vaccination and immunization have proliferated in the digital health information technology market. Mobile health apps have the potential to positively affect vaccination coverage. However, their general functionality, user and disease coverage, and exchange of information have not been comprehensively studied or evaluated computationally.

objectiveThe primary aim of this study is to develop a computational method to explore the descriptive, usability, information exchange, and privacy features of vaccination apps, which can inform vaccination app design. Furthermore, we sought to identify potential limitations and drawbacks in the apps' design, readability, and information exchange abilities.

methodsA comprehensive codebook was developed to conduct a content analysis on vaccination apps' descriptive, usability, information exchange, and privacy features. The search and selection process for vaccination-related apps was conducted from March to May 2019. We identified a total of 211 apps across both platforms, with iOS and Android representing 62.1% (131/211) and 37.9% (80/211) of the apps, respectively. Of the 211 apps, 119 (56.4%) were included in the final study analysis, with 42 features evaluated according to the developed codebook. The apps selected were a mix of apps used in the United States and internationally. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the dimensionality of the data. Furthermore, cluster analysis was used with unsupervised machine learning to determine patterns within the data to group the apps based on preselected features.

resultsThe results indicated that readability and information exchange were highly correlated features based on principal component analysis. Of the 119 apps, 53 (44.5%) were iOS apps, 55 (46.2%) were for the Android operating system, and 11 (9.2%) could be found on both platforms. Cluster 1 of the k-means analysis contained 22.7% (27/119) of the apps; these were shown to have the highest percentage of features represented among the selected features.

conclusionsWe conclude that our computational method was able to identify important features of vaccination apps correlating with end user experience and categorize those apps through cluster analysis. Collaborating with clinical health providers and public health officials during design and development can improve the overall functionality of the apps.

Indexed as

information exchangek-means clusteringmHealthmobile healthmobile phonePCAprincipal component analysisvaccines

Identifiers

PMID36222791
PMCPMC9597419

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.