Reproductive Health Apps: The Benefits and Limitations to User Groups
| dc.contributor.advisor | Doyle-Baker, Patricia Katherine | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kazakoff, Alissa | |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Benham, Jamie Laura | |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Holash, John | |
| dc.date | 2025-02 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-05T18:25:49Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-12-05T18:25:49Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-11-30 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The global mHealth market is growing at an unprecedented rate and is projected to reach an estimated value of over $187 billion by 2033. Many of these apps focus on women’s health and tracking of the menstrual cycle. The reasons for menstrual cycle tracking are diverse and include increasing awareness of reproductive health and body functions, preparing for different menstruation cycle phases, fertility and family planning, identifying bleeding irregularities, and informing conversations with healthcare providers. Two areas of limited research include user retention and engagement based on known theories and models and whether app use impacts menstrual literacy. The purpose of this thesis was to a) investigate the current state of reproductive health tracking through a scoping review (ScR) and b) explore tracking methods and experiences, motivations for using reproductive health apps, and baseline menstrual literacy in a menstruating population through a cross-sectional survey. The ScR observed users were motivated to engage in reproductive health apps for education, contraception, and conception. Several benefits of app use were identified, like improved menstrual health literacy and helping users feel empowered and prepared for their cycles. However, a number of limitations in current reproductive health apps came to light that negatively impact user experience, such as a lack of regulation, variable quality, inaccurate predictions, and minimal diversity. A social media campaign was then employed to recruit menstruating individuals between the ages of 18-35 to complete an online survey that resulted in 1,359 participants. The participant’s mean age was 26 years (± 5; range 18-35) and 66.4% were app users and 33.6% were non-users. The feasibility of using the TAM to explain menstrual cycle app use was demonstrated. The constructs of perceived usefulness (PU) (<0.001), perceived ease of use (PEOU) (0.001), and trust (0.027) to predict app use were all significant. Confidence in knowledge about the menstrual cycle was negatively associated with app use (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65-0.98, p = 0.034). Additionally, having sufficient information about menses and symptoms was a significant predictor of app use (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.71, p = 0.038). To our knowledge, this study is the first to combine the TAM with menstrual literacy and highlight key differences in menstrual literacy and characteristics between app users and nonusers. These results provide valuable insights into this under-researched area of women’s health by offering preliminary data on the factors influencing app use while also informing future research aimed at improving app engagement and menstrual education. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Kazakoff, A. (2024). Reproductive health apps: the benefits and limitations to user groups (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1880/120159 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Graduate Studies | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Calgary | |
| dc.rights | University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. | |
| dc.subject | mHealth | |
| dc.subject | Reproductive Health Apps | |
| dc.subject | Menstrual Cycle | |
| dc.subject.classification | Education--Health | |
| dc.subject.classification | Education--Sciences | |
| dc.subject.classification | Physiology | |
| dc.subject.classification | Public Health | |
| dc.title | Reproductive Health Apps: The Benefits and Limitations to User Groups | |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Kinesiology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Calgary | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science (MSc) | |
| ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent | I require a thesis withhold – I need to delay the release of my thesis due to a patent application, and other reasons outlined in the link above. I have/will need to submit a thesis withhold application. |