Teresa Hagan Thomas1, Kailey Go2, Kelsey Go3, Natalie Jane McKinley4, Kayla R Dougherty5, Kai-Lin You6, Young Ji Lee7. 1. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Palliative Research Center (PaRC), University of Pittsburgh, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: t.thomas@pitt.edu. 2. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: kfg8@pitt.edu. 3. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: kgg16@pitt.edu. 4. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: njm91@pitt.edu. 5. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: krd58@pitt.edu. 6. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: kailinyou@pitt.edu. 7. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: leeyoung@pitt.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Greater emphasis on patient empowerment has led to a plethora of mobile health applications aimed at empowering patients with cancer. However, the rigor and evidence of these apps are rarely acknowledged. This systematic review of patient empowerment apps describes the characteristics, quality, heuristics, and evidence supporting these apps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified commercially available apps through the Apple and Google Play stores using patient- and research-derived conceptualizations of patient empowerment. Three authors used the Mobile App Rating Scale, heuristics, readability, user ratings, and evidence to evaluate the apps' foci, features, and quality. App characteristics were summarized with descriptive analyses. RESULTS: Twelve apps met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed. Apps' content focused on enhancing communication skills (n = 10, 83.3%), social support (n = 8, 66.7%), information about cancer and treatment (n = 8, 66.7%), and peer-to-peer support (n = 5, 41.7%). The mean objective (3.9 ± 0.5 out of 5) and subjective (3.7 ± 1.0 out of 5) quality scores were moderate to high. Most heuristics were not violated, and the mean reading level was 10th grade, which is above the recommended 8th grade level. Four apps had been evaluated in published research articles. DISCUSSION: The contents of patient empowerment apps varied greatly, and the readability was exclusionary to the average reader. Apps. CONCLUSION: Patient empowerment apps should be more rigorously designed and tested to ensure the apps are usable and beneficial to diverse groups of cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE: Greater emphasis on patient empowerment has led to a plethora of mobile health applications aimed at empowering patients with cancer. However, the rigor and evidence of these apps are rarely acknowledged. This systematic review of patient empowerment apps describes the characteristics, quality, heuristics, and evidence supporting these apps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified commercially available apps through the Apple and Google Play stores using patient- and research-derived conceptualizations of patient empowerment. Three authors used the Mobile App Rating Scale, heuristics, readability, user ratings, and evidence to evaluate the apps' foci, features, and quality. App characteristics were summarized with descriptive analyses. RESULTS: Twelve apps met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed. Apps' content focused on enhancing communication skills (n = 10, 83.3%), social support (n = 8, 66.7%), information about cancer and treatment (n = 8, 66.7%), and peer-to-peer support (n = 5, 41.7%). The mean objective (3.9 ± 0.5 out of 5) and subjective (3.7 ± 1.0 out of 5) quality scores were moderate to high. Most heuristics were not violated, and the mean reading level was 10th grade, which is above the recommended 8th grade level. Four apps had been evaluated in published research articles. DISCUSSION: The contents of patient empowerment apps varied greatly, and the readability was exclusionary to the average reader. Apps. CONCLUSION: Patient empowerment apps should be more rigorously designed and tested to ensure the apps are usable and beneficial to diverse groups of cancer survivors.
Authors: Tamar Ginossar; Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah; Andrew J West; Joshua M Bentley; Charlene A Caburnay; Matthew W Kreuter; Anita Y Kinney Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2017-03-13 Impact factor: 4.773
Authors: Victoria Johansson; Anna Sigridur Islind; Tomas Lindroth; Eva Angenete; Martin Gellerstedt Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-02-09 Impact factor: 5.428