Abstract
BackgroundThe number of mobile health apps (MHAs), which are developed to promote healthy behaviors, prevent disease onset, manage and cure diseases, or assist with rehabilitation measures, has exploded. App store star ratings and descriptions usually provide insufficient or even false information about app quality, although they are popular among end users. A rigorous systematic approach to establish and evaluate the quality of MHAs is urgently needed. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) is an assessment tool that facilitates the objective and systematic evaluation of the quality of MHAs. However, a German MARS is currently not available.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to translate and validate a German version of the MARS (MARS-G).MethodsThe original 19-item MARS was forward and backward translated twice, and the MARS-G was created. App description items were extended, and 104 MHAs were rated twice by eight independent bilingual researchers, using the MARS-G and MARS. The internal consistency, validity, and reliability of both scales were assessed. Mokken scale analysis was used to investigate the scalability of the overall scores.ResultsThe retranslated scale showed excellent alignment with the original MARS. Additionally, the properties of the MARS-G were comparable to those of the original MARS. The internal consistency was good for all subscales (ie, omega ranged from 0.72 to 0.91). The correlation coefficients (r) between the dimensions of the MARS-G and MARS ranged from 0.93 to 0.98. The scalability of the MARS (H=0.50) and MARS-G (H=0.48) were good.ConclusionsThe MARS-G is a reliable and valid tool for experts and stakeholders to assess the quality of health apps in German-speaking populations. The overall score is a reliable quality indicator. However, further studies are needed to assess the factorial structure of the MARS and MARS-G.
Highlights
Mobile phones are an integral part of modern life
The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS)-G is a reliable and valid tool for experts and stakeholders to assess the quality of health apps in German-speaking populations
It has been reported that 30% of Germans have 11 to 20 apps installed on their smartphones [2]
Summary
Mobile phones are an integral part of modern life. In Europe, 67% of the population owns smartphones, and the number of smartphone users is rising worldwide [1]. The use of mobile apps to improve mental health and well-being is becoming increasingly common, with roughly 29% of Germans currently using at least one health app [3]. Individuals and people with basic education are commonly monolingual in Germany [6]. These populations have a high need for assistance in developing and maintaining health behaviors and could benefit from the use of mobile health apps (MHAs). A German MHA rating scale could help researchers and health care providers assess the quality of health apps quickly and reliably in their mother tongue. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) is an assessment tool that facilitates the objective and systematic evaluation of the quality of MHAs. a German MARS is currently not available
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