An information quality requirements model for nutrition health applications

Abstract

The demand for nutrition health information has increased due to people health self-awareness. Information Quality (IQ) is very important to ensure the high value of nutrition information in any nutrition health app. Yet, nutrition health apps provide poor IQ to its users, due to the improper implementation of the IQ requirements dimensions in the early system development phases. Recent researches emphasize the importance of implementing IQ requirements in the early phases of the nutrition system development process, as nutrition information relating to personal health, mainly diets and nutrition have a growing interest among internet users. Therefore, this research investigated the IQ requirements dimensions during system development in nutrition health information and adopted the Information Quality Requirements (IQ-RE) model. The IQ-RE model describes the modeling activities and the validation process before the final IQ specifications are derived. The research method used expert reviews with nutritionists to model and validate the IQ dimensions developed during literature review and then the focus group with software engineers to validate the construct of the IQ-RE model. Qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews were conducted when doing the expert reviews and the focus group. Results show that three violations were found (permissions delegation, information monitoring and goal delegations) when validating the IQ dimensions. After refining several dimensions with nutritionist experts and saturation is met, the final IQ specifications are derived into the IQ-RE model. In conclusion, the research helps nutritionists and system engineers about the importance of IQ requirements implementation.