Abstract
Context
With advancements in mobile technology and increased access to smartphones, the use
of Mobile Health applications (apps) has surged. These apps provide an innovative
avenue for supporting cancer caregivers who face increasing burden and lack formal
support; however, the quality of these apps has not been formally evaluated.
Objectives
Evaluate the quality, usefulness, therapeutic potential, and security of publicly
available apps to support unpaid cancer caregivers in managing their roles and responsibilities.
Methods
Cancer caregiving apps were identified through a search of the Apple and Google Play
stores in October 2020. Two authors evaluated the apps using 1) the Mobile App Rating
Scale (MARS) tool for quality, 2) complementary sections of Enlight for therapeutic
persuasiveness and alliance, security and privacy, and 3) an unmet needs checklist
to assess usefulness. Analyses were undertaken to identify high-scoring apps.
Results
Overall, 24 apps were evaluated by two authors (MB, SW). Across the sample, the mean
quality score (MARS) was adequate at 65.7% (3.3/5.0, SD = .5, range: 2.3–4.2). The
combined score for therapeutic persuasiveness and alliance (Enlight) was fair at 60.7%
(3.0/5.0, SD = .8, range: 1.1–4.5), and the privacy and security checklists yielded
means of 79.3% (6.3/8.0, SD = 1.4, range: 50.0%–100.0%) and 41.3% (1.7/4.0, SD = 1.4,
range: 0.0–100.0%), respectively. The unmet needs checklist was 43.2% (SD = 5.3, range:
9.4%–69.7%). A hierarchical cluster analysis identified 12 high scoring apps.
Conclusion
Superior cluster apps scored acceptably for quality and privacy and low for security
and usefulness. Findings will assist clinicians, caregivers, and families identify
apps to support cancer caregivers.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 30, 2021
Accepted:
September 24,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
