Altmannshofer Stefanie, Flaucher Madeleine, Beierlein Milena, Eskofier Bjoern M, Beckmann Matthias W, Fasching Peter A, Huebner Hanna
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany.
Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Digit Health. 2024 Mar 15;10:20552076241234627. doi: 10.1177/20552076241234627. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
Mobile Health apps could be a feasible and effective tool to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention and to support women to change their behaviour to a healthier lifestyle. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and quality of apps designed for breast cancer prevention and education.
We conducted a systematic search for apps covering breast cancer prevention topics in the Google Play and Apple App Store accessible from Germany using search terms either in German or in English. Only apps with a last update after June 2020 were included. The apps identified were downloaded and evaluated by two independent researchers. App quality was analysed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Associations of app characteristics and MARS rating were analysed.
We identified 19 apps available in the Google Play Store and seven apps available in the Apple App Store that met all inclusion criteria. The mean MARS score was 3.07 and 3.50, respectively. Functionality was the highest-scoring domain. Operating system, developer (healthcare), download rates and time since the last update were significantly associated with overall MARS score. In addition, the presence of the following app functions significantly influenced MARS rating: breast self-examination tutorial, reminder for self-examination, documentation feature and education about breast cancer risk factors.
Although most of the apps offer important features for breast cancer prevention, none of the analysed apps combined all functions. The absence of healthcare professionals' expertise in developing apps negatively affects the overall quality.
移动健康应用程序可能是提高乳腺癌预防意识并支持女性改变行为以采用更健康生活方式的一种可行且有效的工具。本研究的目的是分析为乳腺癌预防和教育设计的应用程序的特征和质量。
我们使用德语或英语搜索词，在德国可访问的谷歌应用商店和苹果应用商店中对涵盖乳腺癌预防主题的应用程序进行了系统搜索。仅纳入2020年6月之后有最新更新的应用程序。两名独立研究人员下载并评估了所识别出的应用程序。使用移动应用评分量表（MARS）分析应用程序质量。分析了应用程序特征与MARS评分之间的关联。
我们在谷歌应用商店中识别出19款符合所有纳入标准的应用程序，在苹果应用商店中识别出7款。MARS平均得分分别为3.07和3.50。功能是得分最高的领域。操作系统、开发者（医疗保健领域）、下载率以及自上次更新以来的时间与MARS总分显著相关。此外，以下应用程序功能的存在显著影响MARS评分：乳房自我检查教程、自我检查提醒、记录功能以及关于乳腺癌风险因素的教育。
尽管大多数应用程序提供了乳腺癌预防的重要功能，但所分析的应用程序均未整合所有功能。开发应用程序时缺乏医疗专业人员的专业知识对整体质量产生了负面影响。
