Overview
The My ME-BYO Record is a government-led mobile health (mHealth) solution designed to track health data, medication use, and physical activity. Initiated in 2017 and enhanced in 2020 with an integrated ME-BYO index, the app visualizes a personal health trajectory to motivate behavioral change. This retrospective study analyzes real-world usage and health status to inform strategies for improving user engagement with a public health tool.
Study Design and Population
From April 1, 2020, to July 31, 2023, the Kanagawa Prefectural Government collected data on 186,972 registered users, with 10,239 adults (≥18 years) who accessed the ME-BYO index at least once included in the analysis. The ME-BYO index is a self-reported 15-item assessment spanning metabolic, locomotor, cognitive, and mental resilience domains. Scores range from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better health.
Key Findings: Engagement Levels
About 21.5% of users (n=2,202) were repeat users, while 78.5% (n=8,037) used the app only once. Repeat engagement with the ME-BYO index for health monitoring was modest, suggesting challenges in maintaining long-term use of the tool for regional health strategies.
Who Are the Repeat Users?
Repeat users tended to be older and, interestingly, had higher locomotor function but lower cognitive scores compared with one-time users. Logistic regression showed age, cognitive function, and locomotor scores were associated with engagement patterns. These findings align with broader observations that older adults often engage more with self-care tools and chronic-disease monitoring apps than younger users.
Health Status and Behavioral Implications
Repeat users displayed lower overall ME-BYO index scores, with cognitive function being particularly noteworthy. The ME-BYO index is displayed prominently on the home screen, potentially motivating users to improve lower scores through ongoing monitoring. Conversely, one-time users might hesitate to engage further due to concerns about potentially worsened future scores. This dynamic suggests that cognitive function and perceived health status influence continued app use and self-care behaviors.
Locomotor Function and Engagement
Higher locomotor scores among repeat users indicate that physically active individuals may be more inclined to utilize health-tracking apps to manage behaviors. Active mobility can enhance perceived utility of the app for ongoing health monitoring, driving repeat engagement.
<h2Limitations
- The majority of users were over 40, limiting insights for younger populations.
- Self-report data introduces potential reporting bias; while some ME-BYO components have validation, others remain to be fully validated.
- The dataset lacked granular data on comorbidities and socioeconomic status, which could influence engagement.
Implications for Practice and Policy
Findings highlight a gap in sustained engagement with a government-run health app. Strategies to improve engagement might include targeted support for older users, simplified feedback on cognitive-relevant domains, and integration of ME-BYO insights into broader regional health programs. By situating ME-BYO within a public health infrastructure, Kanagawa can better adapt digital tools to population needs and track progress over time.
Conclusions
This retrospective analysis confirms a substantial divergence between one-time and repeat users of the My ME-BYO Record. The insights on age, cognitive and locomotor domains, and ME-BYO index scores can inform future approaches to enhance engagement and maximize the public health impact of this local-government–driven mHealth solution.
