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

Abstract

Introduction: New Healthcare models are developed with the focus on the community members and towards their self-accomplishment of the healthy activities. Mobile Health, as a newbie technology, seems to be appropriate to help prostate cancer self-care. Aim: this study aimed to provide a comparative model of mobile application for prostate cancer care self-care for Iranians. Material and Methods: This is an applied mixed method study, which was conducted in three phases from 2017 to 2018 as follows: 1) searching and thematic content analyzing of prostate cancer mobile applications and their related articles to extract technical features and clinical functions; 2) selecting the common extracted features and functions to design an initial model of the application; and 3) confirming validity of the features and functions through 2 rounds of Delphi technique. Results: This applied model was developed for the appropriate prostate cancer self-care, with such functionalities as user training, care, diagnosis, interaction, and alerting the user. Also, some technical features of the model include settings and data sharing. Conclusion: The applied model of mobile application for prostate cancer has been done in compliance with requirements of Iranian health information technologists, urologists and oncologists. It seems it would be of help in self-care of patients with needed to prostate cancer care.