Examining Mobile Health App Engagement in a North American Employee Population: A One-Year Longitudinal Observational Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) apps may help promote physical activity and other health behaviours among office-based workers. Low app engagement, however, leading to little or no effect is typical. OBJECTIVE: To examine engagement with a rewards-based mHealth app and identify factors influencing engagement. METHODS: A one-year observational study was conducted with Canadian and U.S. users of the Sprout at Work app (N=2253; Female: 35.7%; Age: 39.3 years). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to examine engagement patterns from a ‘multiple-lives’ perspective (i.e., time to first disengagement, re-engagement, second disengagement). Regression models were used to identify factors influencing engagement. RESULTS: After one month of app use, 51.2% of participants disengaged. Nine out of ten did not re-engage. Risk of first disengagement was highest for 56-75 year-old participants (44%-106% higher), while rewards worth $10 per month lowered this risk (46% lower). CONCLUSION: Findings may help stakeholders address persistent low app engagement moving forward.