Mobile Applications for Diabetes Management in Iran: An App Review and Quality Assessment Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide necessitates the development of effective mobile applications (apps) to assist individuals in managing their condition. Despite the growing number of these applications, there is limited understanding of their quality, which is essential for ensuring that they serve their intended purpose effectively. We aimed to perform a systematic search and evaluate the content and quality of diabetes applications available in Iranian app stores on the basis of the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Methods Iranian app stores for iOS and Android were searched using diabetes-related terms in August 2024. Apps that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were added to the content and quality assessment. Two researchers independently reviewed, rated, and evaluated the retrieved apps. The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) was employed to assess the included apps. MARS rates apps on a scale from 1 to 5, providing an overall score along with scores for engagement, functionality, information, aesthetics, and subject quality. Results The search terms yielded 809 apps, after removing duplicate and irrelevant apps, 33 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The assessment revealed an average quality score of 2.78 (SD 1.04) across the evaluated applications, indicating a moderate level of overall performance. While certain applications demonstrated promising potential by offering valuable educational content and robust features, the overall quality exhibited significant variability, with scores ranging from 1.71 to 4.53. This variability underscores a pressing need for improvements in user engagement and functionality among many of the assessed apps. Conclusions The findings highlight the critical need for targeted enhancements in mobile health applications for diabetes management to better serve the needs of users. Collaboration among developers, healthcare professionals, and researchers is essential to create high-quality, effective tools that can significantly aid individuals in managing their diabetes. Future research should prioritize the identification of best practices and address the gaps identified in this study, thereby maximizing the potential of mobile applications as indispensable resources in diabetes care.