Mobile Technologies for Supporting Food Purchase Choices: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Diet and nutrition choices play an important role in individual health and well-being, as well as for environmental sustainability. The point of purchase presents a decisive moment that determines following consumption and can be influenced by many contextual factors. It therefore offers opportunities for digital technologies to support individuals with their intentions or behavior change goals. OBJECTIVE Since work on mobile technologies to support food purchase choices (MTFPC) has been conducted from the perspective of different research fields, we present a scoping review of research works in this area in order to identify commonly applied technical characteristics and consider fit with theoretical frameworks for behavior change and technology adoption. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search in IEEE, Scopus, and Science Direct databases for primary works discussing MTPFC designs. A content analysis of included works is performed to code a range of characteristics, including: the aim of the application, the functions and functional components, incorporated behavior change techniques (BCTs), and others. RESULTS After exclusion 77 articles remained for coding. Thirteen different core functions and 49 different functionalities were identified. Most technologies concerned smart-phone applications (61), of which most support the review of products in the store (31). Other device types (e.g., smart carts (9)) and core functions (e.g., digital menu (6)) were identified substantially less frequent. On average, 1.36 BCTs were identified per technology. Less than 10% framed their design in behavioral theory. We identified more BCTs in designs framed in behavioral theory (U(68,9) = 186.5, p=0.04). A common adoption challenge was resistance against product scanning. CONCLUSIONS Applications of MTPFC encompass a wide variety of functions and functionalities. However, design choices are seldomly framed in behavior theory, which complicates coherent research and development across projects in the area. Factors important for technology adoption appear frequently overlooked, which may hamper successful real-life implementation of technologies.