Evaluation of Infertility-Related Mobile Applications Using an Adapted APPLICATIONS Scoring System and a Holistic Care Framework

Background/Objectives: Mobile health applications often focus on physiological tracking while neglecting the provision of holistic infertility care. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and usability characteristics and comprehensiveness of holistic care provided by infertility-related mobile applications using the adapted APPLICATIONS Scoring System. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study systematically searched the Apple App Store and Google Play Store at five intervals between 2021 and 2025. English and Turkish keywords were used to screen 2108 applications, with 79 meeting the inclusion criteria. The original APPLICATIONS Scoring System was adapted by combining its 13-point Technical and Usability Component with a researcher-developed 16-point Infertility-Specific Holistic Care Component, resulting in a 29-point adapted APPLICATIONS Scoring System. Results: Among the 79 applications analyzed, the mean score for the Holistic Care Comprehensiveness Component was 6.63 ± 3.50, and that for the Technical and Usability Component was 7.33 ± 2.07. The overall mean adapted APPLICATIONS score was 13.96 ± 4.95 (range, 7-28), with only 7.6% (n = 6) of applications providing comprehensive holistic care content. The physiological dimension was the most frequently represented (n = 65, 82.3%), whereas the psychological dimension (n = 11, 13.9%) was the least frequently represented. Only 39.2% of the applications referenced scientific literature or evidence-based sources. Regarding developers, the developer was unknown for 35.5% of the applications. Regarding the target audience, 48.1% of the applications were designed for couples, 44.3% for women, and 7.6% specifically for men. Conclusions: Mobile applications are increasingly used in infertility care; however, most lack a holistic perspective. To provide high-quality support, infertility applications should incorporate evidence-based content and professional guidance that address the multidimensional needs of both partners.