French Version of the User Mobile Application Rating Scale: Adaptation and Validation Study

Abstract

Background Managing noncommunicable diseases effectively requires continuous coordination and monitoring, often facilitated by eHealth technologies like mobile health (mHealth) apps. The end-user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale is a valuable tool for assessing the quality of mHealth apps from the user perspective. However, the absence of a French version restricts its use in French-speaking countries, where the evaluation and regulation of mHealth apps are still lacking, despite the increasing number of apps and their strong relevance in health care. Objective This study aims to translate and culturally adapt a French version of the user Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS-F) and to test its overall and internal reliability. Methods Cross-cultural adaptation and translation followed the universalist approach. The uMARS-F was evaluated as part through a cohort study using the French mHealth app “MonSherpa” (Qare). Participants were French-speaking adults with Apple or Android phones, excluding those with difficulty understanding French, prior app use, or physical limitations. They assessed the app using the uMARS-F twice (T1 and T2) 1 week apart. Scores for each section and overall were assessed for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test and presented as mean (SD), and potential floor or ceiling effects were calculated accordingly. Overall reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients and internal reliability using Cronbach α. Concordance between the 3 subscales (objective quality, subjective quality, and perceived impact), 4 sections, and 26 items at T1 and T2 was evaluated using the paired t test (2-tailed) and Pearson correlation. Results In total, 167 participants assessed the app at both T1 and T2 (100% compliance). Among them, 49.7% (n=83) were female, and 50.3% (n=84) were male, with a mean age of 43 (SD 16) years. The uMARS-F intraclass correlation coefficients were excellent for objective quality (0.959), excellent for subjective quality (0.993), and moderate for perceived impact (0.624). Cronbach α was good for objective quality (0.881), acceptable for subjective quality (0.701), and excellent for perceived impact (0.936). The paired t tests (2-tailed) demonstrated similar scores between the 2 assessments (P>.05), and the Pearson correlation coefficient indicated high consistency in each subscale, section, and item (r>0.76 and P<.001). The reliability and validity of the measures were similar to those found in the original English version as well as in the Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Greek, and Turkish versions that have already been translated and validated. Conclusions The uMARS-F is a valid tool for end users to assess the quality of mHealth apps in French-speaking countries. The uMARS-F used in combination with the French version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale could enable health care professionals and public health authorities to identify reliable, high-quality, and valid apps for patients and should be part of French health care education programs.