Mohammadi Mogharab Ghazaleh, Khajouei Reza, Norouzkhani Narges, Esmaeili Zahra, Bagheri Fatemeh Zahra, Mazaheri Habibi Mohammad Reza
Department of Health Information Technology, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Fakher Mechatronic Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 May 14;25(1):692. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12838-y.
Breast cancer remains a major global health issue, with millions of cases diagnosed annually and limited diagnostic and treatment options, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of breast cancer mobile health (m-health) applications using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) to guide healthcare stakeholders and patients identify high-quality mobile health applications that meet their needs.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mashhad, Iran, from February to July 2023, targeting breast cancer apps. Relevant apps were identified through comprehensive searches in databases and app stores based on predefined inclusion criteria. Four health information technology experts independently assessed the apps using MARS and the Feature-based Application Rating Method (FARM), with discrepancies resolved through discussion to ensure reliability. Data analysis included calculating mean scores, testing for data normality, and examining correlations between MARS and FARM dimensions using Spearman's correlation.
Of the 453 identified apps, 44 met the inclusion criteria. The average MARS and FARM score was 3.3 out of 5, indicating moderate quality. The functionality dimension scored highest at 4.1, reflecting strong technical performance; however, deficiencies in informational quality negatively impacted user trust and satisfaction. A strong correlation (r = 0.806) was observed between engagement and other quality dimensions, indicating variability in user engagement across apps.
While many breast cancer apps demonstrated high technical functionality, significant informational gaps reduced user trust and satisfaction. This study underscores the need for regulatory standards to ensure reliable content in breast cancer apps. Future app development should prioritize user engagement and informational quality to better meet patient needs.
乳腺癌仍然是一个重大的全球健康问题，每年有数百万例病例被诊断出来，且诊断和治疗选择有限，尤其是在发展中国家。本研究旨在使用移动应用评分量表（MARS）评估乳腺癌移动健康（m-health）应用程序的质量，以指导医疗保健利益相关者和患者识别满足其需求的高质量移动健康应用程序。
2023年2月至7月在伊朗马什哈德进行了一项横断面研究，以乳腺癌应用程序为目标。通过基于预定义纳入标准在数据库和应用商店中进行全面搜索，确定了相关应用程序。四位健康信息技术专家使用MARS和基于特征的应用程序评分方法（FARM）对应用程序进行独立评估，通过讨论解决差异以确保可靠性。数据分析包括计算平均分数、测试数据正态性以及使用Spearman相关性检验MARS和FARM维度之间的相关性。
在确定的453个应用程序中，44个符合纳入标准。MARS和FARM的平均得分为5分制中的3.3分，表明质量中等。功能维度得分最高，为4.1分，反映出强大的技术性能；然而，信息质量方面的缺陷对用户信任和满意度产生了负面影响。在参与度与其他质量维度之间观察到很强的相关性（r = 0.806），表明不同应用程序的用户参与度存在差异。
虽然许多乳腺癌应用程序展示了较高的技术功能，但显著的信息差距降低了用户信任和满意度。本研究强调需要监管标准来确保乳腺癌应用程序中的内容可靠。未来的应用程序开发应优先考虑用户参与度和信息质量，以更好地满足患者需求。
