Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model has been used as an instrument to determine the impact of the intervention on health in digital format. This study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, the dimensions of RE-AIM in...

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Main Authors: Emanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge, Emily de Souza Ferreira, Michele Duarte Pereira, Ana Luiza Paes Mingote, João Henrique Corrêa Silva, Tiago Ricardo Moreira, Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611789/full
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author Emanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge
Emily de Souza Ferreira
Michele Duarte Pereira
Ana Luiza Paes Mingote
João Henrique Corrêa Silva
Tiago Ricardo Moreira
Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta
author_facet Emanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge
Emily de Souza Ferreira
Michele Duarte Pereira
Ana Luiza Paes Mingote
João Henrique Corrêa Silva
Tiago Ricardo Moreira
Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta
author_sort Emanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model has been used as an instrument to determine the impact of the intervention on health in digital format. This study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, the dimensions of RE-AIM in interventions carried out by mobile health apps.MethodsThe systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and involved searching six databases - Medline/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Virtual Library in Health, and Cochrane Library. The review included randomized, cross-sectional, and cohort clinical trials assessing the prevalence of each RE-AIM dimension according to the duration of the intervention in days. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. The random effects meta-analysis method was used to explain the distribution of effects between the studies, by Stata® software (version 11.0) and publication bias was examined by visual inspection of graphs and Egger’s test.ResultsAfter analyzing the articles found in the databases, and respecting the PRISMA criteria, 21 studies were included, published between 2011 and 2023 in 11 countries. Improvements in health care and self-management were reported for various conditions. The result of the meta-analysis showed a prevalence of 67% (CI: 53–80) for the reach dimension, of 52% (CI: 32–72) for effectiveness, 70% (CI: 58–82) for adoption, 68% (CI: 57–79) for implementation and 64% (CI: 48–80) for maintenance.ConclusionThe RE-AIM dimensions are useful for assessing how digital health interventions have been implemented and reported in the literature. By highlighting the strengths and areas requiring improvement, the study provides important input for the future development of mobile health applications capable of achieving better clinical and health promotion outcomes.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO. International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews. CRD42024556886.
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spelling doaj-art-e5890beacbac4884912fa2387de16a982025-08-20T02:59:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16117891611789Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysisEmanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge0Emily de Souza Ferreira1Michele Duarte Pereira2Ana Luiza Paes Mingote3João Henrique Corrêa Silva4Tiago Ricardo Moreira5Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta6Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Medicine and Nursing, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Medicine and Nursing, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Medicine and Nursing, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, BrazilBackgroundThe Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model has been used as an instrument to determine the impact of the intervention on health in digital format. This study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, the dimensions of RE-AIM in interventions carried out by mobile health apps.MethodsThe systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and involved searching six databases - Medline/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Virtual Library in Health, and Cochrane Library. The review included randomized, cross-sectional, and cohort clinical trials assessing the prevalence of each RE-AIM dimension according to the duration of the intervention in days. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. The random effects meta-analysis method was used to explain the distribution of effects between the studies, by Stata® software (version 11.0) and publication bias was examined by visual inspection of graphs and Egger’s test.ResultsAfter analyzing the articles found in the databases, and respecting the PRISMA criteria, 21 studies were included, published between 2011 and 2023 in 11 countries. Improvements in health care and self-management were reported for various conditions. The result of the meta-analysis showed a prevalence of 67% (CI: 53–80) for the reach dimension, of 52% (CI: 32–72) for effectiveness, 70% (CI: 58–82) for adoption, 68% (CI: 57–79) for implementation and 64% (CI: 48–80) for maintenance.ConclusionThe RE-AIM dimensions are useful for assessing how digital health interventions have been implemented and reported in the literature. By highlighting the strengths and areas requiring improvement, the study provides important input for the future development of mobile health applications capable of achieving better clinical and health promotion outcomes.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO. International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews. CRD42024556886.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611789/fullmobile applicationdigital interventionhealth promotionre-aimdigital health
spellingShingle Emanuele Louise Gomes de Magalhães Jorge
Emily de Souza Ferreira
Michele Duarte Pereira
Ana Luiza Paes Mingote
João Henrique Corrêa Silva
Tiago Ricardo Moreira
Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta
Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Public Health
mobile application
digital intervention
health promotion
re-aim
digital health
title Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Evaluation of mobile health applications using the RE-AIM model: systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort evaluation of mobile health applications using the re aim model systematic review and meta analysis
topic mobile application
digital intervention
health promotion
re-aim
digital health
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611789/full
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