Mobile health app for prostate cancer follow-up

What is it about?

The study aimed to investigate stakeholders' perceptions on the use of mobile health (mHealth) applications for prostate cancer follow-up after radical prostatectomy. A total of 30 stakeholders, including nurse specialists, urologists, and patients, were interviewed to identify benefits and barriers to implement an mHealth application. All stakeholders expected benefits in care optimization and disease management, but compliance was a major challenge. The study also identified features for an ideal mHealth app, such as a visual overview of the patient's progression, personalized advice, and improved communication between healthcare providers. The study's limitations include a limited sample size and selection bias, as well as a lack of experience with mHealth applications among participants.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it explores the perceptions and recommendations of stakeholders, including patients, urologists, and nurses, on the use of mobile health (mHealth) applications for prostate cancer follow-up after radical prostatectomy. By understanding the expectations and concerns of these stakeholders, the study aims to provide insights that can help in the development of an mHealth application that can improve patient care and promote disease management while addressing the challenges of app compliance. Key Takeaways: 1. Stakeholders expect benefits in care optimization and disease management by reducing unnecessary clinic visits and allowing more attention and time for patients with adverse oncological or functional outcomes. 2. An mHealth application can constitute a solution to the challenges faced by patients in interpreting their functional outcomes, healthcare providers being optimally informed about the specific problems of each individual patient, and patients receiving fragmented care due to a lack of collaboration between different healthcare providers and/or healthcare organizations. 3. The ideal mHealth app should offer a visual overview of the individual's progression of functional and biochemical outcomes, personalize patients' advice, and improve communication between primary-secondary and tertiary care. 4. App compliance is a major challenge that needs to be addressed in the development and implementation of an mHealth application for prostate cancer follow-up.