BlaCancer: a mobile health solution for enhancing bladder cancer care.

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) ranks among the most prevalent ten cancers globally. Current management for BC has seen limited innovation, particularly for advanced stages. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer an opportunity to improve BC management by engaging, educating, and empowering patients and assisting physicians, yet available apps are insufficient.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to provide guidance for designing 'BlaCancer', a mobile app that addresses unfulfilled needs in BC care. We conducted cross-sectional surveys with 16 BC patients and 28 physicians to determine their needs for an mHealth solution.

RESULTS

Patients perceived their levele of understanding of BC as moderate (mean score: 4.75/7), and 68.8% supported mobile apps for education, medical records, and peer support. Physicians stressed the significance of treatment recommendations (89.3%), symptom recording (39.3%), and decision-making tools. Other concerns included data privacy and integration issues.

CONCLUSION

'BlaCancer' uses stakeholder input to deliver education, symptom monitoring, and clinical decision assistance. The software intends to increase patient participation, improve communication, and streamline aspects of BC care. The small sample size is a limitation that affects generalizability, but the findings still highlight opinions from physicians and patients regarding the role of an app for BC care. Future research will assess the influence on clinical outcomes and quality of life.