ÜBERMAD

Rule · how

Through an app

Delivered in a smartphone app.

A smiling man in a checked jumper sits on a bench and taps a blank glowing phone screen resting in his lap.

Studies (10)

  1. Paper

    Home reminder stickers and app quizzes built stronger self-care habits in adults with diabetes
    UsedHelped

    With home reminders and app quizzes, self-care felt more automatic after 12 weeks than with plain app lessons.

    Randomised trial of 293 adults with type 2 diabetes in China · vs plain app lessons on diabetes · they rated themselves

    UsedHelped

    With home reminders and app quizzes, people did their self-care on more days than with plain app lessons.

    Randomised trial of 293 adults with type 2 diabetes in China · vs plain app lessons on diabetes · they rated themselves

  2. Paper

    Exercise logs and video feedback in a sports course got students to exercise more
    UsedHelped

    Students who logged their exercise and got feedback on their videos said they exercised more than the usual class.

    Randomised trial of 308 university students in China · vs the same sports course taught the usual way · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole groups were assigned, not people; numbers unreliable

  3. Paper

    A form-checking exercise app got people with high blood pressure moving more
    TestedHelped

    People who got live feedback on form, reminders and weekly calls said they exercised more than the other group.

    Small randomised trial of 62 inactive adults with high blood pressure · vs the same exercise plan without feedback or calls · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  4. Paper

    A one-tap goal question didn't make people listen to meditation on more days
    UsedNo difference

    People asked to pick a goal for the week listened on no more days than people asked about the teacher.

    Large trial of 18,559 Spotify users who listened to meditation · vs a pop-up question about the teacher · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; summary claims more than the results show

  5. Paper

    An app that picked exercise for each person didn't get people more active
    UsedNo difference

    An app that picked short home exercise for each person did not get people more active than a plain log.

    Randomised trial of 112 adults who rarely exercised, in France · vs the same app, writing down activity yourself · they rated themselves · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; many people dropped out; only counted people who finished; numbers unreliable

  6. Paper

    Typing blood pressure into a text got it sent more often than an app
    UsedNo comparison

    Daily steps roughly doubled during the programme and stayed up for 12 weeks, with no other group to compare.

    Small randomised trial of 47 adults with kidney disease and high blood pressure · no comparison group · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ no untreated control group; pre-post step counts only

  7. Paper

    After using a walking app with two coaching calls, brisk walking felt more automatic
    UsedNo comparison

    After planning 10-minute brisk walks with an app and two coach calls, brisk walking felt more automatic. There was no other group to compare with.

    Small study of one group of 44 inactive adults after cancer treatment · no comparison group · they rated themselves · ⚠ groups weren't properly compared; results not tested statistically

  8. Paper

    Ticking off daily pills in an app helped people finish treatment and get retested
    UsedHelped

    With an app to tick off daily pills, 95 in 100 took most doses, against 79 with standard advice.

    Randomised trial of 254 adults treated for a stomach infection in China · vs standard advice and two phone calls · behaviour was recorded

    UsedHelped

    With the app, which also showed the date, 81 in 100 kept up well with the check-up test, against 44.

    Randomised trial of 254 adults treated for a stomach infection in China · vs standard advice and two phone calls · behaviour was recorded

    UsedHelped

    The app group had the check-up test sooner than the other group: about 36 days after treatment, against 73.

    Randomised trial of 254 adults treated for a stomach infection in China · vs standard advice and two phone calls · behaviour was recorded

  9. Paper

    A habit app for weight loss didn't clearly beat waiting
    UsedNo difference

    Plans, logs and daily reminders in an app did not clearly help people eat well more than waiting.

    Small randomised trial of 81 overweight adults in the UK · vs people who waited for the app · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; numbers unreliable; only counted people who finished; groups weren't properly compared

    UsedNo comparison

    App users who viewed more screens and logged more tips also tended to change their eating most.

    Small randomised trial of 81 overweight adults in the UK · no comparison group · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; numbers unreliable; only counted people who finished; groups weren't properly compared

  10. Paper

    Two group talks and daily phone swipe practice helped people put things off less
    UsedHelped

    Two group talks and two weeks of daily app practice helped people put things off less than waiting.

    Small randomised trial of 31 young adults in Germany, mostly students · vs people who waited and only filled in questionnaires · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished; numbers unreliable

Often used with it