Generic placeholder image

Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1574-8928
ISSN (Online): 2212-3970

Research Article

The Validity of Mobile Applications to Facilitate Patient Care Provided to Cancer Patients: Opportunities and Limitations

Author(s): Haneen Amawi*, Sayer Al-Azzam, Tasnim Alzanati , Neveen Altamimi, Alaa Hammad , Karem H. Alzoubi , Charles R. Ashby and Amit K. Tiwari

Volume 17, Issue 2, 2022

Published on: 28 July, 2021

Page: [204 - 213] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/1574892816666210728122304

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: The use of health-related applications (apps) on smartphones has become widespread. This is especially of value during the ongoing SAR-COV-2 pandemic, where accessibility to health care services has been greatly limited. Patients with free access to apps can obtain information to improve their understanding and management of health issues. Currently, there are cancer-related apps available on iPhones and androids. However, there are no guidelines to control these apps and ensure their quality. Furthermore, these apps may significantly modify the patients’ perception and knowledge about drug-related health services.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the convenience, quality, safety and efficacy of apps for cancer patient care.

Methods: The study was conducted by searching all apps related to cancer care on both Google Play Store and Apple iTunes Store. A detailed assessment was then performed using the mobile application rating scale (MARS) and risk assessment tools.

Results: The results indicated that on a scale from 1-5, 47% of the apps were rated ≥ 4. The MARS assessment of the apps yielded an overall quality rating of 3.38 ± 0.9 (mean ± SD). The visual appeal of the app was found to have a significant effect on app functionality and user engagement. The potential benefits of these apps come with challenges and limitations. Patents related to smartphone applications targeting patients were also discussed.

Conclusion: We recommend a greater emphasis toward producing evidence-based apps. These apps should be rigorously tested, evaluated and updated by experts, particularly clinical pharmacists. Also, these apps may alter patient attitudes toward services provided by physicians and pharmacists. Finally, these apps should not replace in-person interactive health services.

Keywords: Cancer apps, health services, cancer Care, google play, health Apps, smartphone mobile.

[1]
Jimenez G, Lum E, Car J. Examining Diabetes Management Apps Recommended From a Google Search: Content Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7(1): e11848.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/11848] [PMID: 30303485]
[2]
Yardley L, Choudhury T, Patrick K, Michie S. Current issues and future directions for research into digital behavior change interventions. Am J Prev Med 2016; 51(5): 814-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.07.019] [PMID: 27745680]
[3]
Byambasuren O, et al. Prescribable mHealth apps identified from an overview of systematic reviews. npj Digital Medicine 2018; 1(1): 12.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41746-018-0021-9]
[4]
Aitken M, Clancy B, Nass D. The growing value of digital health: Evidence and impact on human health and the healthcare system.IQVIA institute for human data science 2017.
[5]
Odeh B, Kayyali R, Nabhani-Gebara S, Philip N. Optimizing cancer care through mobile health. Support Care Cancer 2015; 23(7): 2183-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2627-7] [PMID: 25649121]
[6]
GM. C. The Cell: A molecular approach.The development and causes of cancer. 2nd. Sunderland MA: Sinauer Associates. 2000.
[7]
World Health Organization (WHO).. Cancer by the international agency for research on cancer (IARC). 2018.
[8]
Böhme C, von Osthoff MB, Frey K, Hübner J. Development of a rating tool for mobile cancer apps: Information analysis and formal and content-related evaluation of selected cancer apps. J Cancer Educ 2019; 34(1): 105-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13187-017-1273-9] [PMID: 28819928]
[9]
Boland L, Bennett K, Connolly D. Self-management interventions for cancer survivors: A systematic review. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26(5): 1585-95.
[PMID: 29199362]
[10]
Stark L, Tofthagen C, Visovsky C, McMillan SC. The symptom experience of patients with cancer. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2012; 14(1): 61-70.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0b013e318236de5c] [PMID: 22639548]
[11]
Wijesooriya NR, Mishra V, Brand PLP, Rubin BK. COVID-19 and telehealth, education, and research adaptations. Paediatr Respir Rev 2020; 35: 38-42.
[PMID: 32653468]
[12]
Greenhalgh T, Koh GCH, Car J. Covid-19: A remote assessment in primary care. BMJ 2020; 368: m1182.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1182] [PMID: 32213507]
[13]
Mann DM, Chen J, Chunara R, Testa PA, Nov O. COVID-19 transforms health care through telemedicine: Evidence from the field. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2020; 27(7): 1132-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa072] [PMID: 32324855]
[14]
Marshall VK, Cairns PL. Challenges of caregivers of cancer patients who are on oral oncolytic therapy. Semin Oncol Nurs 2019; 35(4): 363-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2019.06.009] [PMID: 31229341]
[15]
Krikorian S, Pories S, Tataronis G, et al. Adherence to oral chemotherapy: Challenges and opportunities. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2019; 25(7): 1590-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155218800384] [PMID: 30253725]
[16]
Osborn J, et al. Do mHealth applications improve clinical outcomes of patients with cancer? A critical appraisal of the peer-reviewed literature. Support Care Cancer 2019.
[PMID: 31273501]
[17]
Prochaska JJ, Coughlin SS, Lyons EJ. Social media and mobile technology for cancer prevention and treatment. Annual Meeting. 128-37.
[18]
Bert F, Giacometti M, Gualano MR, Siliquini R. Smartphones and health promotion: A review of the evidence. J Med Syst 2014; 38(1): 9995.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10916-013-9995-7] [PMID: 24346929]
[19]
Martínez-Pérez B, de la Torre-Díez I, López-Coronado M. Mobile health applications for the most prevalent conditions by the world health organization: Review and analysis. J Med Internet Res 2013; 15(6): e120.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2600] [PMID: 23770578]
[20]
Yetisen AK, Martinez-Hurtado JL, da Cruz Vasconcellos F, Simsekler MC, Akram MS, Lowe CR. The regulation of mobile medical applications. Lab Chip 2014; 14(5): 833-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3lc51235e] [PMID: 24425070]
[21]
Kratzke C, Cox C. Smartphone technology and apps: Rapidly changing health promotion. Global Journal of Health Education and Promotion 2012; 15(1)
[22]
Ventola CL. Mobile devices and apps for health care professionals: Uses and benefits. P&T 2014; 39(5): 356-64.
[PMID: 24883008]
[23]
Lewis TL, Wyatt JC. mHealth and mobile medical apps: A framework to assess risk and promote safer use. J Med Internet Res 2014; 16(9): e210.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3133] [PMID: 25223398]
[24]
Purswani JM, Dicker AP, Champ CE, Cantor M, Ohri N. Big data from small devices: The future of smartphones in oncology. Semin Radiat Oncol 2019; 29(4): 338-47.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semradonc.2019.05.008] [PMID: 31472736]
[25]
Coughlin S, Thind H, Liu B, Champagne N, Jacobs M, Massey RI. Mobile phone apps for preventing cancer through educational and behavioral interventions: State of the art and remaining challenges. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2016; 4(2): e69-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.5361] [PMID: 27242162]
[26]
Collado-Borrell R, Escudero-Vilaplana V, Ribed-Sánchez A, Ibáñez-García S, Herranz-Alonso A, Sanjurjo-Sáez M. Smartphone applications for cancer patients; what we know about them? Farm Hosp 2016; 40(1): 25-35.
[PMID: 26882831]
[27]
Chu J. Physical wearable item including, but not limited to, watch sleeves, bracelets, bands and necklaces, containing a QR code that is linked to personal information listed on a database by the wearer, including name, photo, medication list, allergies and next-of-kin details. Scanning the QR code with a smartphone or other capable device with a QR code reader application will quickly list information for the identification of the wearer as well as important medical information for patient safety, such as a medical emergency to avoid drug allergies or interactions. Australia.: Australia, Editor. AU Patent no. AU2014100188 2014.
[28]
Errico JP, Mendez S, Simon BJ. Mobile phone for treating a patient with dementia. 2019. U.S. Patent No. 10,293,160. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.‏
[29]
Haider MI, Harvey N, Kankanala S, Martin F, Pettis R Continuous glucose monitoring injection device 2019. U.S. Patent No. 10,252,002. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
[30]
Leabman MA. Methods for radio wave based health monitoring that utilize a removable smartphone case.2021. U.S. Patent No. 10,888,242. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.‏
[31]
Lee BH, Lee J. Smartphone with telemedical device. U.S. Patent No 10,349,893, 2019.
[32]
Zhang J, Chong CC. Wellness management method and system by wellness mode based on context-awareness platform on smartphone. US Patent no. US20150056589A1, 2017.
[33]
Bhushan M, Sibal S, Amba R. Method and system for continuous monitoring of health parameters during exercise. U.S. Patent Application No. 16/035,706, 2018.
[34]
Leung PS-P. Mobile automated health sensing system, method and device. U.S. Patent No 10,506,954, 2019.‏
[35]
Parate A. Shanmugam A, Ganesan D, Salthouse CD, McKee SA. Systems and methods for health monitoring. U.S. Patent Application No. 15/692967, 2018.
[36]
Bardy GH, Felix J, Bishay JM. Providing a personal mobile device-triggered medical intervention. Patent No. WO2015048320A1,
[37]
Zhao W, Tian S, Huang L, Liu K, Dong L, Guo J. A smartphone-based biomedical sensory system. Analyst 2015; 145(8): 2873-91.
[38]
Mishra V. Method and system for smart healthcare management. U.S. Patent Application No 14/882,699, 2016.
[39]
Outwater C, Redmann WG. Smartphone based identification, access control, testing, and evaluation. U.S. Patent Application No. 15/284,157, 2017.
[40]
McKee JH, Yetter F L, Klaus JB, Malik NA. Integrated electronic health care coordination system with touch screen tablets and smartphones. U.S. Patent Application No. 14/475,712, 2015.‏
[41]
Fink W, Tarbell M. Smartphone-based handheld ophthalmic examination devices. U.S. Patent Application No 17/101,503, 2021.
[42]
Albert D E. Cardiac performance monitoring system for use with mobile communications devices. U.S. Patent No. 9,026,202 2015.
[43]
Pandey A, Hasan S, Dubey D, Sarangi S. Smartphone apps as a source of cancer information: Changing trends in health information-seeking behavior. J Cancer Educ 2013; 28(1): 138-42.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13187-012-0446-9] [PMID: 23275239]
[44]
Böhme C, von Osthoff MB, Frey K, Hübner J. Qualitative evaluation of mobile cancer apps with particular attention to the target group, content, and advertising. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 144(1): 173-81.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00432-017-2533-0] [PMID: 29052039]
[45]
Papageorgiou A, et al. Security and privacy analysis of mobile health applications: The alarming state of practice. IEEE Access 2018; 6: 9390-403.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2799522]
[46]
Salazar A, de Sola H, Failde I, Moral-Munoz JA. Measuring the quality of mobile apps for the management of pain: Systematic search and evaluation using the mobile app rating scale. JMIR mhealth uhealth 2018; 6(10): e10718-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/10718] [PMID: 30361196]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy