Evaluation of the quality of m-Health applications in burns using the mobile app rating scale (MARS): A systematic review

• Functionality scored highest; aesthetics, information, and engagement scored lower. • Most apps had acceptable quality; one Persian app scored 4.2, another 3.25. • These apps estimate TFR, TBSA, burn degree, percentage of burns, and ABSI scores. As mobile phone users and smart phone penetration grow, the healthcare sector utilizes mobile apps to enhance health management, particularly in the case of burns. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the quality of m-Health apps available in the field of burns in Persian-English language for the Android operating system. A systematic search for burn-related apps was conducted on three mobile app stores (Google Play, Cafe Bazaar, and Myket) from February 11 to February 21, 2024. The search utilized English terms like “burn”, “burns”, “thermal”, as well as Persian keywords equivalent in meaning to “burn”. The selected apps underwent independent evaluation using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). A total of 4172 apps were found. Then, by removing the duplicate apps, and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and after a complete review of the content, six apps entered the final stage of quality evaluation. Among the reviewed apps, two types of apps were identified: calculators, information apps. Based on the MARS scale, the functionality domain received the highest mean score of 4.75, whereas the aesthetics, information, and engagement domains scored lower, with mean scores of 3.27, 3.18, and 3.16, respectively. The study found that the studied apps generally exhibited good functionality quality, and in terms of engagement, aesthetics, and information, they possessed acceptable quality, potentially improving digital health services for burns.