Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries
BackgroundNumerous mobile health apps are marketed globally, and these have specific features including physical activity tracking, motivational feedback, and recipe provision. It is important to understand which features individuals prefer and whether these preferences diffe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2023-12-01
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| Series: | JMIR Human Factors |
| Online Access: | https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2023/1/e44993 |
| _version_ | 1827589566722211840 |
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| author | Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz Sarah Snuggs Anumeha Sah Sophie Clot Daniel Lamport Joseph Forrest Agnes Helme-Guizon Marie-Claire Wilhelm Cindy Caldara Camille Valentine Anin Julia Vogt |
| author_facet | Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz Sarah Snuggs Anumeha Sah Sophie Clot Daniel Lamport Joseph Forrest Agnes Helme-Guizon Marie-Claire Wilhelm Cindy Caldara Camille Valentine Anin Julia Vogt |
| author_sort | Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundNumerous mobile health apps are marketed globally, and these have specific features including physical activity tracking, motivational feedback, and recipe provision. It is important to understand which features individuals prefer and whether these preferences differ between consumer groups.
ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify consumers’ most preferred features and rewards for a mobile app that targets healthy eating and physical activity and to reduce the number of individual mobile health app features to a smaller number of key categories as perceived by consumers. In addition, we investigated the impact of differences in consumers’ BMI and self-efficacy on their intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Finally, we identified the characteristics of different target groups of consumers and their responses toward app features via cluster analysis.
MethodsA total of 212 participants from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany were recruited via the web to answer questions about app features, motivation, self-efficacy, demographics, and geographic factors. It is important to note that our study included an evenly distributed sample of people in the age range of 23 to 50 years (23-35 and 35-50 years). The app features in question were generated from a 14-day cocreation session by a group of consumers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Results“Home work out suggestions,” “exercise tips,” and “progress charts” were the most preferred app features, whereas “gift vouchers” and “shopping discounts” were the most preferred rewards. “Connections with other communication apps” was the least preferred feature, and “charitable giving” was the least preferred reward. Importantly, consumers’ positive attitude toward the “social support and connectedness and mindfulness” app feature predicted willingness to pay for such an app (β=.229; P=.004). Differences in consumers’ health status, motivational factors, and basic demographics moderated these results and consumers’ intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Notably, younger and more motivated consumers with more experience and knowledge about health apps indicated more positive attitudes and intentions to use and willingness to pay for this type of app.
ConclusionsThis study indicated that consumers tend to prefer app features that are activity based and demonstrate progress. It also suggested a potential role for monetary rewards in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Moreover, the results highlighted the role of consumers’ health status, motivational factors, and socioeconomic status in predicting their app use. These results provide up-to-date, practical, and pragmatic information for the future design and operation of mobile health apps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:03:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4853e55dc534bef9ae2df7119b94a88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2292-9495 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:03:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Human Factors |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4853e55dc534bef9ae2df7119b94a882023-12-11T14:30:42ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Human Factors2292-94952023-12-0110e4499310.2196/44993Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European CountriesBahram Mahmoodi Kahrizhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7585-6642Sarah Snuggshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5191-9517Anumeha Sahhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0603-9921Sophie Clothttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4964-825XDaniel Lamporthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4592-0439Joseph Forresthttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1378-5663Agnes Helme-Guizonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2433-6273Marie-Claire Wilhelmhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1414-7551Cindy Caldarahttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-8907-110XCamille Valentine Aninhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1048-7863Julia Vogthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3178-2805 BackgroundNumerous mobile health apps are marketed globally, and these have specific features including physical activity tracking, motivational feedback, and recipe provision. It is important to understand which features individuals prefer and whether these preferences differ between consumer groups. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify consumers’ most preferred features and rewards for a mobile app that targets healthy eating and physical activity and to reduce the number of individual mobile health app features to a smaller number of key categories as perceived by consumers. In addition, we investigated the impact of differences in consumers’ BMI and self-efficacy on their intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Finally, we identified the characteristics of different target groups of consumers and their responses toward app features via cluster analysis. MethodsA total of 212 participants from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany were recruited via the web to answer questions about app features, motivation, self-efficacy, demographics, and geographic factors. It is important to note that our study included an evenly distributed sample of people in the age range of 23 to 50 years (23-35 and 35-50 years). The app features in question were generated from a 14-day cocreation session by a group of consumers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Results“Home work out suggestions,” “exercise tips,” and “progress charts” were the most preferred app features, whereas “gift vouchers” and “shopping discounts” were the most preferred rewards. “Connections with other communication apps” was the least preferred feature, and “charitable giving” was the least preferred reward. Importantly, consumers’ positive attitude toward the “social support and connectedness and mindfulness” app feature predicted willingness to pay for such an app (β=.229; P=.004). Differences in consumers’ health status, motivational factors, and basic demographics moderated these results and consumers’ intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Notably, younger and more motivated consumers with more experience and knowledge about health apps indicated more positive attitudes and intentions to use and willingness to pay for this type of app. ConclusionsThis study indicated that consumers tend to prefer app features that are activity based and demonstrate progress. It also suggested a potential role for monetary rewards in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Moreover, the results highlighted the role of consumers’ health status, motivational factors, and socioeconomic status in predicting their app use. These results provide up-to-date, practical, and pragmatic information for the future design and operation of mobile health apps.https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2023/1/e44993 |
| spellingShingle | Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz Sarah Snuggs Anumeha Sah Sophie Clot Daniel Lamport Joseph Forrest Agnes Helme-Guizon Marie-Claire Wilhelm Cindy Caldara Camille Valentine Anin Julia Vogt Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries JMIR Human Factors |
| title | Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries |
| title_full | Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries |
| title_short | Unveiling Consumer Preferences and Intentions for Cocreated Features of a Combined Diet and Physical Activity App: Cross-Sectional Study in 4 European Countries |
| title_sort | unveiling consumer preferences and intentions for cocreated features of a combined diet and physical activity app cross sectional study in 4 european countries |
| url | https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2023/1/e44993 |
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