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Table 1 Basic characteristics of included apps

From: The evolution of mobile apps for asthma: an updated systematic assessment of content and tools

 

2011 (n = 78)

New 2013 (n = 92) ¤

All 2013 (n = 147) ¤

Characteristic

Yes

%

Yes

%

Yes

%

Platform

      

Android only

32

41%

52

57%

73

50%

iOS only

40

51%

28

30%

57

39%

Both

6

8%

12

13%

17

12%

Cost

      

Free

26

33%

59

64%

80

54%

Paid-for

52

67%

33

36%

67

46%

Median

£1.27

–

£0.89

–

£1.12

–

Country of origin †

      

US

24

31%

31

34%

52

35%

UK

5

6%

6

7%

8

5%

India

7

9%

7

8%

8

5%

Australia

3

4%

4

4%

7

5%

Other

10

13%

24

26%

33

22%

Unknown

29

37%

20

22%

39

27%

Content orientation

      

Conventional medicine only

56

72%

59

64%

101

69%

Complementary/alternative medicine only

15

19%

17

18%

26

18%

Mixed

7

9%

16

17%

20

14%

Audience targeting ‡

      

Children or young adults

2

3%

7

8%

8

5%

Parents or caregivers

3

4%

15

16%

19

13%

No audience stated

73

94%

73

79%

123

84%

Other features

      

Adverts

14

18%

31

34%

39

27%

Social sharing

13

17%

35

38%

61

41%

Cloud storage

3

4%

10

11%

16

11%

Clinical disclaimer

32

41%

37

40%

55

37%

In-app help

14

18%

28

30%

43

29%

Online help

5

6%

6

7%

10

7%

  1. ¤ New 2013, Apps available in 2013 that were not available in 2011; All 2013, All apps available in 2013, excluding those available in 2011 that were subsequently discontinued.
  2. †Four countries with highest overall number of apps in 2013 shown. Other countries were: Ireland (n = 5), Germany (n = 4), Switzerland (n = 4), Japan (n = 3), Romania (n = 2), Singapore (n = 2), Austria (n = 1), France (n = 1), Italy (n = 1), Norway (n = 1), Poland (n = 1), Portugal (n = 1), Spain (n = 1), and Sweden (n = 1).
  3. ‡Audience targeting was identified by specific claims made in the app title or description or content. We found no cases where apps explicitly indicated they were intended for adult use only. A small number of apps targeted both children and a parent or caregiver (2011, n = 0; New 2013, n = 3; All 2013, n = 3).