Bridging the Gap: Patient-centered Design in Cancer Self-management Applications

Abstract

Mobile health applications are increasingly important in supporting cancer self-management, providing features like medication tracking, symptom logging, education, and communication. Nonetheless, many of these applications are developed without meaningful patient input, leading to a disconnect between available features and user needs. Our review examines 40 peer-reviewed studies on cancer self-management applications, focusing on the integration of patient-centered design. We identify shared technological features, evaluate patient preferences, and pinpoint gaps, including limited involvement in development, lack of personalization, technological limitations, and usability concerns. The results show that while core health-monitoring functions are often present, these applications often lack personalization, emotional support, accessibility, and inclusive support for diverse users. Limited user involvement during development further reduces their effectiveness. We recommend adopting participatory co-design strategies to ensure patient experiences and needs shape future mHealth solutions.