BACKGROUND: Digital health interventions, especially mobile apps, have become instrumental in helping women at risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), increasing their understanding of the condition, improving self-care, and fostering empowerment. However, their rapid proliferation has brought about significant challenges regarding quality assessment and evidence-based determination. Therefore, establishing reliable quality assessment methods is essential to assist patients with PCOS in identifying effective and trustworthy mobile health tools.
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the content and quality of mobile apps developed for patients with PCOS using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) to provide insights into their strengths, limitations, and areas needing improvement.
METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical study conducted in June 2024, a comprehensive search was performed to identify English and Persian mobile apps related to PCOS through the CafƩ Bazaar and Google Play Store platforms, using both direct search methods and auxiliary tools such as AppAgg and AppBrain. Two trained reviewers (AR and NN) independently reviewed the apps using the MARS tool. The interrater reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient test. The quality of each app was scored across 4 dimensions: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality.
RESULTS: Of the initial 199 apps identified, 15 met the inclusion criteria after screening and updates. The interrater agreement rate was 85%, which is considered acceptable. The apps' overall quality was sufficient, as assessed using the MARS, with a mean score of 3.6 (SD 0.52) of 5. Functionality and aesthetics emerged as the highest-scoring dimensions, highlighting user-friendliness and visual appeal (n=10). In contrast, engagement following information quality received the lowest average score, indicating limited interactivity and gaps in providing evidence-based information. The Ask PCOS app achieved the highest overall score, performing exceptionally well in subjective quality (4.75) and app-specific quality (4.33), reflecting its strong capacity to positively impact users' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to PCOS. Uvi Health and Ask PCOS scored highest in engagement (4.2), while PCOS & PCOD Diet & Remedies led in functionality (5), and Uvi Health topped aesthetics (5).
CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that even though many available PCOS-related apps demonstrate strengths in technical performance and design, critical limitations persist regarding user engagement and the credibility of the information provided. The predominance of commercially affiliated apps without academic or clinical oversight was identified as a key contributing factor to these shortcomings. These results underscore the need for future app development to incorporate more user-engaging features, reliable evidence-based content, and personalization strategies to enhance user engagement and support effective PCOS self-management. Addressing these limitations and leveraging the capabilities of existing mobile devices are essential steps toward improving the overall quality and impact of mobile health interventions for individuals with PCOS.
