MOBILE HEALTH APPLICATIONS FOR CANCER PATIENT EDUCATION: A TECHNOLOGICAL APPRAISAL

Introduction: Mobile health applications provide rapid access to cancer-related information on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, supporting shared decision-making, symptom management, emotional support, and patient–professional communication. Despite their growing adoption, scientific evidence remains limited regarding the quality, technical rigor, and educational value of mobile apps specifically designed for cancer patients. Objective: To identify and evaluate mobile applications available for download in the App Store and Play Store that were designed to educate adult cancer patients. Method: This is a technological prospection study which was developed based on a research protocol that was validated by four PhD nurses, one of them with expertise in mobile application development, ensuring methodological rigor and relevance. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first step, carried out in January 2025, systematic searches were performed in the App Store® and Google Play® using the descriptors “cancer” and “oncology.” Free mobile applications designed for the education of adult cancer patients and available in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were included. Exclusion criteria comprised apps without descriptions, those developed for health professionals, congresses, social networking, pediatric populations, or those presenting technical failures. In Step 2, the applications identified were independently screened by two researchers based on titles and general descriptions. In Step 3, eligible apps were downloaded and evaluated for quality using an adapted version of the Applications Scoring System. This instrument ranges from 0 to 16 points and assesses criteria such as comprehensiveness, scientific references, in-app purchases, connectivity, advertisements, text search functionality, cross-device compatibility, images/figures, videos, special features, and ease of navigation. Results: A total of 848 apps were identified, but only 32 met the inclusion criteria. Most were categorized under “Medicine” (n = 21, 65,6%), available on the App Store (78,1%), and launched between 2017 and 2024, with a peak in 2024 (40,6%). Breast cancer was the most frequently addressed topic among the evaluated apps. Seven apps scored 10 points, while ten apps scored six or fewer. Only 28.1% offered comprehensive features; 62.5% included scientific references. The majority required internet connectivity for proper functionality (87.5%) and demonstrated good usability (90,6%), been classified as easy to navigate, although professional validation was limited. Conclusion: Although digital technologies for oncology education are advancing, gaps remain in terms of scientific validation, functionality, and accessibility. The findings underscore the need to develop more inclusive, evidence-based tools that are aligned with the educational and informational needs of cancer patients.