The research includes a comprehensive review of the functionality and quality of breast cancer-related applications available from phone stores. The results of the study include the results of evaluating the applications with a valid and reliable measurement tool that measures these properties. Applications in education category; information on the cancer process, a guide, lecture notes and a scientific journal. Applications in the treatment category; It was determined that it contained information about symptoms, laboratory values, nutrition and medications. It was observed that those in contact were of the type to be used for radiotherapy sessions and patient-physician communication. The results of the research could not be compared, since no similar research was available on breast cancer.
It was determined that the images of 18 applications containing information on early diagnosis methods in breast cancer were at a level that could be accessed from any search engine and the applications were not supported by video. In other studies that conduct mobile application reviews, it is pointed out that application contents lack evidence-based information and that content visuals should be enriched (Azar et al., 2013; Cowan et al., 2013; Wearing, Nollen, Befort, Davis, & Agemy, 2014). In another study, it is pointed out that there is no standard in the creation of health-related mobile application content, but it is emphasized that only the modification of the contents by application developers creates a limitation (Hughson, Daly, Woodward-Kron, Hajek, & Story, 2018). With this situation, it is pointed out that it is possible to access non-evidence based, incomplete or even incorrect information with mobile applications (Tripp et al., 2014). It can be said that the mobile application contents are in line with other research data and that the application contents are evaluated by experts and presented to the users in the stores will contribute to coping with these problems.
It was found that the applications in the study were of medium quality and the highest score from the MARS assessment tool sub-dimensions was functionality. This result shows that the programs offer ease of use, performance and navigation opportunities by the users and it is a very important feature for an application. In a study evaluating applications with a similar measurement tool in Australia, it was noted that the quality of weight management and health practices for children / adolescents was higher in functionality sub-dimension scores than others (Bardus, van Beurden, Smith, & Abraham, 2016). In a study examining pregnancy practices with a similar measurement tool, it was found that functionality scores higher in MARS sub-dimensions than others (Brown, Bucher, Collins, & Rollo, 2019). The lowest score of the information quality among other sub-dimensions of the MARS measurement tool is also similar to other studies (Bardus et al., 2016; Brown et al., 2019). In addition to these, it was observed in the study that the participation score was lower than the other sub-dimensions. He states that this situation is insufficient in terms of entertainment, interest, customization and interaction features of mobile application contents and needs to be improved. It is seen that the features and effects offered to users by mobile applications produced in different cultures and languages are similar. In this context, it can be said that the features of mobile applications that need to be developed in the world are similar.
Mobile applications offer an extraordinary opportunity for patient follow-up, information and behavioral change in the field of health due to their easy accessibility and high usability (Bastl, Kmenta, Berger, & Berger, 2018). When mobile application contents are equipped with high evidence level information, they can turn into an effective educational material. With the widespread use of mobile applications to be developed by healthcare professionals, the transfer of correct information will be easier (Stoyanov et al., 2015). In addition, it is the first research in our country that includes the systematic process carried out to select applications and the use of the MARS measurement tool to evaluate the quality of its applications.
Implications for Nursing
The applications available in the stores can be used in patient follow-up in the relevant clinics, patient-nurse interaction and patient education.
Nurses' patient follow-up needs to be improved. The care service supported by technological products attracts more attention and provides more active participation by patients.