Elsevier

The Breast

Volume 23, Issue 5, October 2014, Pages 683-689
The Breast

Original article
Smartphone breast applications – What's the evidence?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2014.07.006Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Introduction

There are around 40,000 healthcare applications (apps) available for smartphones. Apps have been reviewed in many specialties. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in females with almost 1.38 million new cases a year worldwide. Despite the high prevalence of breast disease, apps in this field have not been reviewed to date. We have evaluated apps relevant to breast disease with an emphasis on their evidence base (EB) and medical professional involvement (MPI).

Methods

Searching the major app stores (apple iTunes, Google Play, BlackBerry World, Windows Phone) using the most common breast symptoms and diseases identified relevant apps. Extracted data for each app included target consumer, disease focus, app function, documentation of any EB, documentation of MPI in development, and potential safety concerns.

Results

One-hundred-and-eighty-five apps were reviewed. The majority focused on breast cancer (n = 139, 75.1%). Educational (n = 94) and self-assessment tools (n = 30) were the most common functions demonstrated. EB and MPI was identified in 14.2% and 12.8% of apps respectively. Potential safety concerns were identified in 29 (15.7%) apps.

Conclusions

There is a lack of EB and MPI in the development of current breast apps. Safety concerns highlight the need for regulation, full authorship disclosure and clinical trials. A robust framework for identifying high quality applications is necessary. This will address the current barrier pertaining to a lack of consumer confidence in their use and further aid to promote their widespread implementation within healthcare.

Keywords

Breast disease
Cancer
Apps
Smartphone
mHealth
Mobile health

Abbreviations

App
application
EB
evidence base
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
GPS
global positioning system
IT
information technology
MHRA
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
MPI
medical professional involvement
NHS
National Health Service
mHealth
mobile health
UK
United Kingdom
US
United States

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