MARS (Mobile App Rating Scale)
MARS is a tool that helps assess how good a mobile health app is by looking at how engaging, functional, visually appealing, and informative it is. It’s useful for researchers, developers, and reviewers who want to evaluate or build high-quality health apps.
At a glance
Use when
Evaluating health app quality in research, selecting apps for clinical or public health use, guiding development of new health apps.
Avoid when
Assessing clinical efficacy or safety of medical apps requiring regulatory evaluation, when technical access to the app is limited.
Inputs
A mobile health app to be evaluated, rated by one or more trained raters using the MARS scale.
Outputs
A quality score for the app across multiple domains (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information), and an overall app quality rating.
How it works
The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) is a 23-item multidimensional tool developed through a systematic review of 372 quality criteria from 25 sources. It comprises four objective subscales—engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality—and one subjective satisfaction scale. The tool demonstrates high internal consistency (alpha = .90) and interrater reliability (ICC = .79). It was validated using 50 mobile health apps selected from iTunes, with a 10-app pilot phase.
- HTA domains
- Clinical Effectiveness, Organisational aspects, Patient and Social Aspects
- Assumptions
- Raters are trained or familiar with the MARS criteria; the app is accessible and functional during assessment; quality is measurable through observable features.
- Strengths
- Multidimensional, reliable, validated, easy to use, applicable across diverse health app types, supports both evaluation and development.
- Limitations
- May not capture clinical accuracy or long-term health outcomes; subjective satisfaction component may vary between users; limited to apps available during assessment period.
- Also known as
- Mobile App Rating Scale
Questions this answers
- › How engaging is the mobile health app for users?
- › How well does the app function technically (e.g., ease of use, navigation)?
- › How visually appealing is the app's design?
- › How accurate, relevant, and comprehensive is the health information provided?
- › What is the user's overall satisfaction with the app?
- › Can the app be used as a benchmark or checklist for developing new health apps?
References & sources
Similar by meaning
Beta record. Generated from the primary source via AI extraction and independent audit, pending final human review.