"Keep It Short and Simple": Perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals on the use of a mobile health app in the care for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

Background: Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for localised prostate cancer generally have good long-term survival rates. However, late recurrences can occur and require lifelong follow-up.

Objective: This research aims to investigate different stakeholders' perceptions on the use of mobile health (mHealth) applications for prostate cancer follow-up after radical prostatectomy.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted to explore stakeholders' perceptions of an mHealth application for follow-up after radical prostatectomy. Urologists, nurses, and patients treated with radical prostatectomy were interviewed, and data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis according to Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. Recommended features for an ideal mHealth application were grouped according to the Persuasive Systems Design model.

Results and limitations: A total of 30 stakeholders, consisting of nurse specialists (n = 7), urologists (n = 8), and patients (n = 15), were interviewed. Expected benefits and barriers were mentioned and grouped in five overarching themes: healthcare optimisation, disease management, app compliance, legal and organisational requirements, and patient-mHealth interaction. Stakeholders provided a multitude of suggestions for an ideal mHealth app. Yet, not all types of stakeholders were interviewed, and patient selection limited generalisability of findings.

Conclusions: Stakeholders indicate that an mHealth app in the care for post-prostatectomy patients can improve patient care and promote disease management but consider app compliance as a major challenge.

Patient summary: We interviewed patients, nurses, and urologists about using an mHealth application for follow-up after radical prostatectomy. The participants agreed that an mHealth app could improve care optimisation and disease management, but some concerns and barriers were expressed. This resulted in a list of recommended features for an ideal app.