Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.32903/p.8.1.1
THE ROLE OF USER REVIEWS IN OPTIMISING DIGITAL HEALTH APPLICATIONS
Ana Mirković Moguš
orcid.org/0009-0002-0081-1754
; Faculty of Education, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Digital applications for health represent significant potential for solving modern health challenges. Despite an increasing number of people using instructions provided by digital health apps, the level of adherence remains low, which adversely affects the overall effectiveness of these apps. Research dealing with the root causes of such low engagement is insufficiently represented, even though user experience is an important factor in the acceptance of these applications. Analysing user reviews of digital health apps can provide insight into user experiences, including features that users rated as positive or lacking, thereby guiding future app development and improvements. The goal of the research is to analyse user feedback on publicly available health applications in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses and determine guidelines for their improvement. To better understand what users value in digital health apps, reviews from 102 health applications available on the Apple App Store and Google Play were analysed, using both thematic and sentiment analysis. The findings reveal several key factors that users consistently appreciate—apps that are easy to use, offer customisable features, include motivational tools, and provide responsive customer support tend to receive positive feedback. Conversely, users often stop using health apps when they encounter poor usability, technical glitches, unhelpful support, or concerns about how their personal data is handled. These issues not only affect user satisfaction but can also significantly impact long-term engagement with digital health tools.
Keywords
usability issues; personalisation; thematic analysis; sentiment analysis; user experience
Hrčak ID:
345593
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2024.
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