Unfortunately, I was unable to find an environmental scan specifically related to my health promotion issue of rising rates of syphilis amongst females of reproductive age (15-39) within the North Bay Parry Sound District. However, I found an environmental scan relevant to one of the planned activities of my proposed logic model for using various technologies to raise awareness amongst individuals at risk and the community health and service providers that play an essential role in the cascade of syphilis care.
Benoit et al. (2022) environment scan closely reviewed the use of free mobile apps to promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health in North America. With evidence showing that access to sexual and reproductive health information via mobile phones can improve knowledge, reduce sexual risk behaviour and increase the use of services, it was imperative to use a systematic approach to establish and evaluate the quality of mobile apps.
Their environmental scan used a literature review to develop search terms for adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) related apps in the Canadian and US Apple and Google App Store. In total, 2761 apps were identified, of which many were duplicates, leaving 1246 remaining, where only 15 met the inclusion criteria for further assessment. With the 15 apps that promoted ASRH knowledge remaining, a comprehensive review was developed with findings that only a few provided comprehensive, reliable, and evidence-based sexual health information.
Strengths
Clearly stated goal
The method was discussed with explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria using four electronic databases and search terms related to ASRH.
Mobile Apps were evaluated and scored based on pre-set criteria using a validated app assessment framework called MARS (mobile app rating system).
Future considerations were outlined to understand the available sexual and reproductive health-specific mobile apps that currently exist in North America, which will help inform the quality and usability of mobile apps and the potential development of new mobile apps specific to adolescents and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health.
Limitations
MARS evaluation and scoring for "goals" being specific and measurable was not precise in determining whether this pertained to the app store description or within the app itself.
MARS evaluation for "evidence-based" included that the app was trialled and tested, not published in the scientific literature
Paid apps were not included, which might have included specific, measurable goals and more evidence-based ASRH information.
References
Benoit, J. R. A., Louie-Poon, S., Kauser, S., & Meherali, S. (2022). Promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health in North America Using free mobile apps: Environmental scan. JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.2196/33826
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