Zhou Xu, Wu Wei-Yi
Department of Public Health, International College, Krirk University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Digit Health. 2024 Dec 22;10:20552076241308939. doi: 10.1177/20552076241308939. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
Numerous mobile apps designed for men who have sex with men (MSM) are launched in recent years, potentially serving as crucial platforms for disseminating sexual health information and promoting healthy sexual behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of dating apps for MSM on the apps market and analyze the sexual health information they provide.
A systematic search was conducted in major apps platforms in China (including Apple, OPPO, Huawei, and Tencent) to identify current MSM dating apps. Apps fitting the inclusion criteria were independently assessed by two MSM users via using the User Version of Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS), a user-assessed quality scale for mobile apps.
Fifty mobile apps were identified and assessed, with an overall uMARS score of 3.64 ± 0.53 out of 5. More than half (29 out of 50) of apps included sexual health information.
The overall quality of the apps was satisfactory, whereas significant variations existed in sexual health information content and focus. It is recommended that app developers can further collaborate with public health experts to enhance the accuracy and utility of sexual health information on these platforms.
近年来，众多为男男性行为者（MSM）设计的移动应用程序被推出，它们有可能成为传播性健康信息和促进健康性行为的关键平台。本研究旨在评估应用市场上MSM约会应用程序的质量，并分析它们提供的性健康信息。
在中国的主要应用平台（包括苹果、OPPO、华为和腾讯）进行系统搜索，以识别当前的MSM约会应用程序。符合纳入标准的应用程序由两名MSM用户通过使用移动应用程序评分量表用户版（uMARS）进行独立评估，uMARS是一种由用户评估的移动应用程序质量量表。
共识别并评估了50个移动应用程序，uMARS总得分在5分制中为3.64±0.53。超过一半（50个中的29个）的应用程序包含性健康信息。
应用程序的整体质量令人满意，但性健康信息内容和重点存在显著差异。建议应用程序开发者进一步与公共卫生专家合作，以提高这些平台上性健康信息的准确性和实用性。
