A Structured Review and Evaluation of Android Mobile Applications for Yoga Support

Abstract

Although there are hundreds of mobile yoga apps in the app market space, the quality and usefulness of these apps have not been systematically tested. We conducted a structured quality evaluation of apps from the Google Play store, applying the validated Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) by two independent raters. 18 out of 250 apps were identified for evaluation after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria. The mean MARS score is 4.11 (out of 5) with SD = 0.38. There was high interrater reliability (ICC = .88; 95% CI 0.85-0.91). Apps performed well on functionality and aesthetics. However, there is much room for improvement in information and engagement. Designers and researchers should focus on improving user engagement and building the evidence base for informational content provided in apps.

Keywords: Android; mobile application quality assessment; yoga app.