Abstract
BackgroundSeveral mobile apps have been designed for patients with a diagnosis of cancer. Unfortunately, despite the promising potential and impressive spread, their effectiveness often remains unclear. Most mobile apps are developed without any medical professional involvement and quality evidence-based assessment. Furthermore, they are often implemented in clinical care before any research is performed to confirm usability, appreciation, and clinical benefits for patients.ObjectiveWe aimed to develop a new smartphone app (Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana [CSSI]) specifically designed by breast care specialists and patients together to help breast cancer patients better understand and organize their journey through the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We describe the development of the app and present assessments to evaluate its feasibility, usefulness, and capability to improve patient empowerment.MethodsA mixed method study with brief longitudinal quantitative data collection and subsequent qualitative semistructured interviews was designed. Twenty breast cancer patients participated in the study (mean age 51 years, SD 10 years). The usability of the app, the user experience, and empowerment were measured after 1 month. The semistructured interviews measured the utility of the app and the necessary improvements.ResultsThe app received good responses from the patients in terms of positive perception of the purpose of the app (7/20, 35%), organizing the cure path and being aware of the steps in cancer management (5/20, 25%), facilitating doctor-patient communication (4/20, 20%), and having detailed information about the resources offered by the hospital (2/20, 10%). Correlation and regression analyses showed that user experience increased the level of empowerment of patients (B=0.31, 95% CI 0.22-0.69; P=.009). The interviews suggested the need to constantly keep the app updated and to synchronize it with the hospital’s electronic agenda, and carefully selecting the best time to offer the tool to final users was considered crucial.ConclusionsDespite the very small number of participants in this study, the findings demonstrate the potential of the app and support a fully powered trial to evaluate the empowering effect of the mobile health app. More data will be gathered with an improved version of the app in the second phase involving a larger study sample.
Highlights
BackgroundThe time of cancer diagnosis is uncertain and worrisome
Despite the very small number of participants in this study, the findings demonstrate the potential of the app and support a fully powered trial to evaluate the empowering effect of the mobile health app
The Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana (CSSI) endeavored in designing and developing a new smartphone app dedicated to breast cancer patients and based on direct observation of patients’ needs in everyday practice
Summary
BackgroundThe time of cancer diagnosis is uncertain and worrisome. Several studies on cancer patients have shown a strong desire for information and guidance, and these needs are often unmet [1,2,3]. Mobile phone apps have been designed to operate as an electronic version of the patient binder. This modern way of conveying information is believed to be even more efficacious in enhancing communication between the health care institution and patients [6,7]. Several mobile apps have been designed for patients with a diagnosis of cancer. Most mobile apps are developed without any medical professional involvement and quality evidence-based assessment. They are often implemented in clinical care before any research is performed to confirm usability, appreciation, and clinical benefits for patients
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