A lot of action, but not in the right direction: systematic review and content analysis of smartphone applications for the prevention, detection, and management of cancer

• Published in: Journal of medical Internet research 2013-12, Vol.15 (12), p.e287-e287
• Main Authors: Bender, Jacqueline Lorene, Yue, Rossini Ying Kwan, To, Matthew Jason, Deacken, Laetitia, Jadad, Alejandro R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Application; Automation; Behavior; Behavior change; Behavioural changes; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cell Phone; Cellular telephones; Consumer health information; Consumption; Content analysis; Detection; Disease management; Disease prevention; Diseases; Female; Fund raising; Handheld computers; Health Promotion; Humans; Internet; Internet access; Intervention; Interventions; Literature reviews; Male; Mobile Applications; Mobile phones; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Neoplasms - therapy; Nonprofit organizations; Oncology, Experimental; Pain management; Qualitative research; Review; Risk Reduction Behavior; Safety; Search strategies; Smartphones; Smoking cessation; Social support; Software; Symptoms; Systematic review; Telemedicine; Text messaging; Wireless Internet access
• ISSN: 1438-8871; 1439-4456; 1438-8871
• DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2661

Mobile phones have become nearly ubiquitous, offering a promising means to deliver health interventions. However, little is known about smartphone applications (apps) for cancer. The purpose of this study was to characterize the purpose and content of cancer-focused smartphone apps available for use by the general public and the evidence on their utility or effectiveness. We conducted a systematic review of the official application stores for the four major smartphone platforms: iPhone, Android, Nokia, and BlackBerry. Apps were included in the review if they were focused on cancer and available for use by the general public. This was complemented by a systematic review of literature from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify evaluations of cancer-related smartphone apps. A total of 295 apps from the smartphone app stores met the inclusion criteria. The majority of apps targeted breast cancer (46.8%, 138/295) or cancer in general (28.5%, 84/295). The reported app purpose was predominantly to raise awareness about cancer (32.2%, 95/295) or to provide educational information about cancer (26.4%, 78/295), followed by apps to support fundraising efforts (12.9%, 38/295), assist in early detection (11.5%, 34/295), promote a charitable organization (10.2%, 30/295), support disease management (3.7%, 11/295), cancer prevention (2.0%, 6/295), or social support (1.0%, 3/295). The majority of the apps did not describe their organizational affiliation (64.1%, 189/295). Apps affiliated with non-profit organizations were more likely to be free of cost (χ(2) 1=16.3, P