Using mobile health applications to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on users' perceptions

Fatimah Salah Al Ansari; Asma Alfayez; Demah Alsalman; Fahad Alanezi; Hala Alhodaib; Saja Al-Rayes; Duaa Aljabri; Sumaiah Alrawiai; Zahraa Alakrawi; Amjad Saadah; Mona M Al-Juwair; Afnan Aljaffary; Bashair AlThani; Hayat Mushcab; Turki M Alanzi; Heba AlNujaidi; Atheer K Al-Saif; Razaz Attar; Arwa Alumran; Sama'a Al-Mubarak; Seham Alyousef

doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihac008

Using mobile health applications to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on users' perceptions

Int Health. 2023 Jan 3;15(1):47-55. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac008.

Authors

Fatimah Salah Al Ansari¹, Asma Alfayez¹, Demah Alsalman¹, Fahad Alanezi², Hala Alhodaib³, Saja Al-Rayes¹, Duaa Aljabri¹, Sumaiah Alrawiai¹, Zahraa Alakrawi¹, Amjad Saadah¹, Mona M Al-Juwair¹, Afnan Aljaffary¹, Bashair AlThani², Hayat Mushcab⁴, Turki M Alanzi¹, Heba AlNujaidi⁵, Atheer K Al-Saif⁵, Razaz Attar⁶, Arwa Alumran¹, Sama'a Al-Mubarak¹, Seham Alyousef⁷

Affiliations

¹ Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
² College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: This research aims to assess the users' perceptions of usability and quality of mobile health applications used for promoting physical activity in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. A survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and distributed among the Saudi population through social media to assess the users' perceptions of using mobile applications to enhance physical activity. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions in six sections, including demographics (nine items), perceived usefulness (three items), perceived ease of use (three items), attitudes (three items), user experience (six items) and subjective quality (three items). All the participants were in Saudi Arabia and >15 y of age.

Results: A total of 195 m-Health users participated in the survey. Of the total participants, 25.1% were overweight and 21.0% were obese. The workout frequency of most users was rarely (32.3%) and three to four times a week (29.2%). In addition, 55.9% of the users agreed that the application they use served all fitness levels and >80% either agreed or strongly agreed that it was easy for them to learn how to use the application. More than 70% of users agreed or strongly agreed that the application enhanced their knowledge of workouts and physical activity and >90% would recommend the application to others. There were no differences identified between the male and female participants and younger (<40 y) and older (>40 y) participants with respect to perceived usefulness and ease of use, attitudes, experiences and subjective quality. However, significant differences were observed between participants <40 y and >40 y of age in terms of perceived ease of use of mHealth applications.

Conclusion: mHealth users across Saudi Arabia believe that the mHealth applications have good usability and quality factors. As a result, they can motivate people and help them achieve their goals in relation to physical activities.

Keywords: applications; exercise; experience; m-Health; physical activities.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Mobile Applications*
Saudi Arabia
Telemedicine*