A Contribution into Developing a Model for Prostate Cancer Self-Care Mobile Application.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Oncology

Background:

• Emerging healthcare models emphasize community engagement and self-management of health.
• Mobile Health (mHealth) technology presents a promising avenue for supporting prostate cancer self-care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a comparative mobile application model tailored for prostate cancer self-care among the Iranian population.

Main Methods:

• An applied mixed-methods study conducted in three phases (2017-2018).
• Phase 1: Content analysis of existing prostate cancer mobile apps and literature to identify features and functions.
• Phase 2: Design of an initial application model based on extracted elements.
• Phase 3: Validation of the model's features and functions using two rounds of the Delphi technique.

Main Results:

• A functional mobile application model for prostate cancer self-care was developed.
• Key functionalities include user training, care management, diagnostic support, user interaction, and alerts.
• Essential technical features incorporate user settings and data sharing capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed mobile application model aligns with the requirements of Iranian health information technologists, urologists, and oncologists.
• This mHealth tool is anticipated to significantly aid in the self-care of patients requiring prostate cancer management.