Women’s Health and Technology: Mapping of Mobile Apps for Menopause

Abstract Background Perimenopause and menopause are natural stages of the life cycle that can bring about manifestations that impact the quality of life. Digital tools and interventions can be useful in improving their management and contributing to the well-being of users. The objective of this study is to identify the available apps for managing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms and improving the quality of life. Methods A keyword search was conducted in the iOS and Android repositories. All resulting apps were screened based on inclusion (scoring, downloads, language) and exclusion (for purchase, wrong topic or wrong purpose) criteria. Three researchers used the MARS questionnaire to evaluate the apps and reached a consensus on the results. A search was conducted in PubMed for each app to identify those with scientific evidence. Next step will be a deeper analysis of the different variables and their correlations. Results In the initial search 411 results were retrieved (n = 205 from App Store and n = 206 from Play Store), of which 32 apps met the inclusion criteria and were downloaded for evaluation. Of these, 20 apps were assessed using the MARS questionnaire by three independent researchers. The results for each MARS section, considering the mean and standard deviation, are: Engagement (3.04,0.75), Functionality (3.50,0.57), Aesthetics (3.27,0.65), Information Quality (3.32,0.60), Subjective Quality (2.54,0.56) and Impact (2.76,0.61). Of all the apps, only three have some scientific evidence supporting their use. Conclusions There is a wide variety of applications available for managing perimenopause and menopause. The average scores indicate acceptable quality, although few apps are based on scientific evidence or have had their effectiveness or usability analyzed. Developing reliable and accessible digital tools or interventions for all users based on their real needs could be relevant for achieving better health outcomes and improving user experience and usability. Key messages • Evidence-based mHealth tools can have a high impact in menopause and perimenopause management. • It is necessary to identify women’s needs and involve them in the design and implementation of digital health interventions.