Content and quality of smartphone applications for bariatric surgery: A review and content analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to provide a descriptive analysis of the content and quality of bariatric apps available in Germany.

METHODS

From November 2022 to February 2023, apps available in German used in pre- or postoperative care were searched in the Google Play, the Apple App Store, and the Register for Digital Health Applications (DHA). One author reviewed titles and summary pages. Relevant apps were downloaded and two authors assessed their eligibility. Additionally, the authors independently screened records indexed in Medline/Embase. Besides a summary of the app content, a quality assessment was performed using two checklists (the Action Alliance for Patient Safety Checklist (APS); the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS).

RESULTS

38 potentially relevant apps were identified,  = 3 were included. Functionality was good (MARS score 13-18/20). Content quality was variable (MARS score 7-19/35). Moreover, the apps' content lacked references and varied in scope.

CONCLUSION

There are few apps in the field of BS available and the quality of their content is moderate to low. The evidence base remains unclear due to a lack of sources.

INNOVATION

This is the first structured assessment of bariatric apps in Germany using validated checklists. The results provide a foundation for evidence-based, patient-centered app development in bariatric care and thus represent an important digital innovation in this field.