Development of a mobile application to support prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the development of several mobile health applications to inform and support cancer patients throughout their journey. However, to date, very few applications have been developed to support prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. With the increased availability of smartphones, even amongst the elderly population, mobile applications could provide an excellent tool for cancer patients to obtain timely, reliable information and to facilitate communication with healthcare professionals. Radiotherapy involves a complex, multi-step process, including initial consultations, treatment planning, daily treatment sessions, and follow-up care. The complexity of the treatment process can make patients feel lost. As a result, several studies have reported that prostate cancer patients often have unmet information and care needs. In order to address this challenge, we aimed to assess the feasibility of introducing a mobile application to guide cancer patients throughout the treatment process. Based on the findings of the feasibility study, we developed a prototype mobile application to support patients undergoing radiotherapy to the prostate.