Abstract
In recent years, the use of mental health (MH) applications has increased, with many offering content related to mindfulness. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the quality of smartphone apps related to mindfulness available in Japan and examine the current status of their scientific evidence and privacy policies. In total, 1,638 apps were identified in app stores in December 2022. Twenty-one apps were included in the evaluation based on the following eligibility criteria: (1) the terms “mindfulness” or “meditation” were explicitly stated in both the app title and web description, (2) the app provided sufficient mindfulness-related content, and (3) offered user interface and content in Japanese. App quality was assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), with an average score of 3.380, indicating a moderate level of quality. Regarding scientific evidence, seven apps were cited in academic publications, of which two were evaluated in randomized controlled trials. Additionally, 17 apps publicly disclosed their privacy policies. Future efforts should focus on accumulating scientific evidence such as that from randomized controlled trials. Importantly, information transparency, including improvements in translation accuracy and privacy protection, should be enhanced to improve overall usability.
