A new study analyzed the content of smartphone apps for managing drinking. Researchers downloaded publically available Android apps that were designed to support recovery or prevent problematic alcohol use from the Google Play Store between late 2014 and mid-2015. The final analytic sample consisted of 266 apps. The number of downloads and user rating were recorded for each app and used as a proxy to measure user engagement, although correlation between these two indices was very low (r = – 0.02). Apps were then rated on three domains: Basic descriptors, functionality, and use of dynamic features. Univariate regression models were used to identify qualities of the apps that were associated with popularity and user-rated quality. Overall results found the apps were designed target to multiple audiences, including current and former drinkers, and goals of the apps included drinking more safely (55%), stopping drinking (40%) and remaining sober (40%). Some apps contained advertising, grammatical errors, or tutorials. Only 3% of apps included information on national drinking guidelines. 25% of apps were downloaded over 10,000 times. The average rating was 3.8 stars (SD = 0.9). The most common app functions were blood alcohol concentration (BAC) calculators (37%) and providing general information on drinking (37%). 24% of apps included tracking calculators and 21% included motivational messages or features; 28% provided support to users during intoxication by reminding them to drink water or asking them to perform reaction time tests to assess intoxication. Most tailoring occurred within the context of BAC calculators and tracking calendars, but 38% of apps described users’ alcohol consumption and 33% provided information based on user demographics. Two percent of apps or fewer included tailored information on variables known to be important to behavior change, such as self-efficacy, triggers, and goal-setting. Results of the univariate regression found variables from all three domains were related to app popularity and user-rated quality. Apps were more likely to have over 10,000 downloads if they were free (OR = 3.13 [1.57-6.21]) or provided some form of tailoring (OR = 2.41 [1.30-4.46]). Apps were more likely to be highly rated if they were larger, included guidance on their use, or included tracking calendars. The authors claim this may indicate users prefer relatively complicated apps that can provide a greater degree of tailoring.

Take away: Among publically available smartphone apps, tailoring to manage drinking was positively associated with user-rated quality, but the degree to which apps were tailored to users was limited. Very few apps included tailored information on variables known to be important to behavior change, such as self-efficacy.

Citation: Hoeppner BB, Schick MR, Kelly LM, et al. (2017). There is an app for that – Or is there? A content analysis of publicly available smartphone apps for managing alcohol use [published online ahead of print September 12 2017], Journal of Substance Abuse Treatmentdoi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.09.006