Mobile app for patient education about breast cancer surgical treatment

Breast cancer is a relevant public health problem with high incidence, morbidity and mortality. Patients experience a feeling of uncertain future, low self-esteem, fear of death and mutilation. In this situation, the rational absorption of information is compromised and technology can help.

Objective:

To develop and validate a mobile application (app) for patient education on the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Patient education in breast cancer helps set patients’ preoperative expec-tations and satisfaction with the surgical experience and outcomes.

Methods:

The app was created in five stages: 1. analysis - situational diagnosis and integrative literature review; 2. design - planning and creation of didactic content; 3. development - definition of the app navigation; 4. implementation - configuration of tools and creation of an environment to download the app from the internet; 5. testing - application of usability, performance, compatibility, and functional tests. The developed app was validated by 13 doctors experienced in the treatment of breast cancer and 19 female breast cancer patients, using the Delphi technique.

Results:

Consensus was achieved, with an excellent overall content validity index of 1.00, both among the doctors and the patients in the first round of consultation.

Conclusion:

The app, named OncoMasto Cirurgia App, was developed after an integrative literature review, tested and validated for content by specialist doctors and by breast cancer patients, showing great agreement among the study participants.

Keywords:
Breast conservation therapy; Breast neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Mobile applications

Assessed topics ^a	Inadequate		Partially adequate		Adequate		Very adequate		Total		CVI
Assessed topics ^a	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	CVI
Ease of understanding	0	0	0	0	2	15.4	11	84.6	13	100	1.00*
Grammar and spelling	0	0	0	0	3	23.1	10	76.9	13	100	1.00*
Design	0	0	0	0	2	15.4	11	84.6	13	100	1.00*
Sequence of topics	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	100	13	100	1.00*
Ease of reading	0	0	0	0	3	23.1	10	76.9	13	100	1.00*
Content clarity	0	0	0	0	2	15.4	11	84.6	13	100	1.00*
Vocabulary	0	0	0	0	3	23.1	10	76.9	13	100	1.00*
Content adequacy
Preoperative care	0	0	0	0	3	23.1	10	76.9	13	100	1.00*
Breast-conserving surgery	0	0	0	0	4	30.8	9	69.2	13	100	1.00*
Mastectomy	0	0	0	0	4	30.8	9	69.2	13	100	1.00*
Types of breast reconstruction	0	0	0	0	6	46.2	7	53.8	13	100	1.00*
Types of axillary surgery	0	0	0	0	5	38.5	8	61.5	13	100	1.00*
Postoperative care	0	0	0	0	5	38.5	8	61.5	13	100	1.00*
Overall CVI	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.00*

Assessed topics^a	Disagree		Partially agree		Agree		Strongly agree		Total		CVI
Assessed topics^a	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	CVI
Understood the sequence of topics	0	0	0	0	4	21.1	15	78.9	19	100	1.00*
Understood the provided information	0	0	0	0	3	15.8	16	84.2	19	100	1.00*
The images were useful	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	100	19	100	1.00*
Understood the vocabulary	0	0	0	0	6	31.6	13	68.4	19	100	1.00*
Learned something new	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	100	19	100	1.00*
Would indicate the app to a friend or relative	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	100	19	100	1.00*
Other patients will understand the app content	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	100	19	100	1.00*
Felt motivated to navigate through the app	-	-	-	-	1	5.3	18	94.7	19	100	1.00*
Overall CVI	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.00*

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155 - Prado-Velho -, Curitiba - PR - CEP 80215-901, Telefone: (41) 3271-1608 - Curitiba - PR - Brazil
E-mail: revista.fisioterapia@pucpr.br

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[1] * Correspondence: salomereiki@univas.edu.br