Cross-sectional study on user requirements for developing a digital patient navigator app.

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Patient navigation
• Health informatics

Background:

• Digital patient navigator apps are emerging tools to support patients.
• Understanding patient preferences is crucial for effective app design and implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient preferences for digital patient navigator app features.
• To explore how patient characteristics influence the perceived importance and use of app components.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 243 breast disease patients at University Hospital Erlangen.
• A 20-question questionnaire assessed preferences for digital patient navigator features.
• Descriptive analyses identified key features and their correlation with patient demographics.

Main Results:

• Top preferred features included chat communication, personalized treatment plans, and real-time notifications.
• Patient age, native language, and education significantly impacted feature importance and anticipated use.
• Younger patients and those with lower education levels showed higher preference for personalized plans and notifications.

Conclusions:

• Digital patient navigator apps can complement in-person support for diverse patient populations.
• Future app development must prioritize personalization, language accessibility, and communication features to meet varied patient needs.