Persian mobile health applications for COVID-19: A use case-based study

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, a significant number of mobile health apps have been created around the world and in Iran to help consequence reduction of this emerging pandemic. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review the characteristics of Persian Android and iOS apps related to COVID-19 and determine their use-cases based on a reference model. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in three main steps. First, a systematic search was conducted via Iranian mobile apps’ markets using the keywords related to COVID-19 in January 2021. Then, the retrieved apps were analyzed according to their characteristics. Finally, the use-cases of the given apps were determined and categorized based on a reference model. RESULTS: Based on our inclusion criteria, 122 apps were selected and evaluated. Most of these apps (87.7%) was free. Small proportions (5%) of reviewed apps have been developed with participation of clinical expert and half of the apps mentioned the references they used. Furthermore, about half of the apps (50.8%) were provided contact information of the developers. The studied apps were classified into four use-case major categories, including educational (98%), fulfilling a contextual need (18%), communicating, and/or sharing the information (0.83%), and health-related management (2%). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the Persian mobile apps for COVID-19 are not in a satisfying situation. Furthermore, although these apps are significant in quantity but in terms of use-cases, they are not widespread.