Mobile apps for breast cancer have grown in number, offering resources for patients and healthcare providers. This analysis of 599 apps from leading app stores revealed a focus on disease and treatment information, disease management, and awareness-raising. Most apps were patient-oriented, with limited healthcare professional involvement and a lack of source material or disclaimers. Almost 80% of the apps didn’t have any reference to evidence.
What was the context of the study?
With more people using smartphones, mobile apps have become popular tools for health and wellness. For breast cancer patients, these apps can provide helpful information, support, and tools to track their health. But it’s not always clear how reliable or useful these apps are. This review analyzed breast cancer apps to see how they’re made and who they’re designed for.
What did we do?
We looked at apps from two major app stores (iOS and Android), focusing on those related to breast cancer. We studied 599 apps, checking their features, target audiences, and whether they had evidence-based information or disclaimers. We also looked for gamification features, like rewards or challenges, which make apps more engaging.
What did we find?
Most apps (75%) were made for patients, focusing on treatment information and raising awareness. Sources and references were absent in almost 80% of app descriptions. Most apps were created by small businesses or individual developers rather than healthcare organizations. Around 19% used gamification to encourage user engagement, but about 10% promoted unverified alternative treatments, which could be harmful.
Why is this important?
This review shows that while breast cancer apps have potential, many lack credibility and input from healthcare professionals. Better quality control could make these tools more trustworthy and helpful for patients.
Reference
Giunti G, Giunta DH, Guisado-Fernandez E, Bender JL, Fernandez-Luque L. A biopsy of Breast Cancer mobile applications: state of the practice review. Int J Med Inform. 2018 Feb;110:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.10.022. Epub 2017 Nov 7. PMID: 29331247.