Background: The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) provides a reliable method to assess the quality of mobile health (mHealth) apps. However, training and expertise in mHealth and the relevant health field is required to administer it.
Objective: This study describes the development and reliability testing of an end-user version of the MARS (uMARS).
Methods: The MARS was simplified and piloted with 13 young people to create the uMARS. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the uMARS was then examined in a second sample of 164 young people participating in a randomized controlled trial of a mHealth app. App ratings were collected using the uMARS at 1-, 3,- and 6-month follow up.
Results: The uMARS had excellent internal consistency (alpha = .90), with high individual alphas for all subscales. The total score and subscales had good test-retest reliability over both 1-2 months and 3 months.
Conclusions: The uMARS is a simple tool that can be reliably used by end-users to assess the quality of mHealth apps.
Keywords: Australia; Internet; MARS; RCT; anxiety; anxiety disorders; app evaluation; app rating; app trial; cellphone; cognitive behavioral therapy; depression; depressive disorder; e-therapy; eHealth; ehealth; emental health; end user; evidence-informed; mHealth; mHealth evaluation; mHealth implementation; mental health; mhealth trial; mobile application; mobile health; online; randomized controlled trial; reliability; research translation; smartphone; telemedicine; user testing; well being.