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Klin Padiatr 2015; 227(03): 166-170
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1548840
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Mobile Application for Patient Empowerment and Management of Long-Term Follow-Up after Childhood Cancer

Design, Implementierung und Evaluation einer mobilen Anwendung zur selbstständigen Nachsorgeverwaltung nach einer Krebserkrankung im Kindesalter
A.-K. Kock
1   Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
R. S. Kaya
1   Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
C. Müller
2   Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
B. Andersen
1   Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
T. Langer
2   Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
J. Ingenerf
1   Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 May 2015 (online)

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Abstract

In Germany, about 1 800 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed every year. The chances of survival have increased significantly over the last 40 years due to the continuous improvement of treatment strategies. The number of childhood cancer survivors in Germany thus ranges around 30 000 nowadays. But their treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation has certain side-effects. In addition to the acute effects during the treatment phase, the disease- and treatment-related late effects can occur even decades after the end of therapy. These late effects draw attention as the survival rate constantly increases. Two-thirds of the former patients retain long-term consequences, nearly a fifth with a resulting diminished quality of life. Early detection of these late effects can help to reduce or even to prevent serious health damage. Therefore, the study group LESS supplies long-term follow-up recommendations for former patients. The project described in this paper was to design and implement a mobile application to increase the compliance for this aftercare program. This application provides information about the patient’s individual aftercare plan and supports appointment management as well as a reminding functionality. A prototype for former osteosarcoma patients was tested and evaluated in two university hospitals. First results show the application’s very high potential for patient empowerment.

Zusammenfassung

Etwa 1 800 Kinder und Jugendliche unter 15 Jahren erkranken jährlich in Deutschland an Krebs. Durch die stetige Verbesserung der Behandlungsstrategien hat sich die Überlebensrate in den letzten 40 Jahren deutlich erhöht. In Deutschland leben zurzeit mehr als 30 000 ehemalig krebskranke Kinder und Jugendliche. Der Therapieerfolg ist jedoch häufig mit diversen Nebenwirkungen verbunden. Außer den akuten Nebenwirkungen während der Behandlungsphase müssen krankheits- und therapiebezogene Spätfolgen – diese können auch noch Jahrzehnte nach Therapieende auftreten – angesichts steigender Überlebenszahlen verstärkt im Mittelpunkt des Interesses stehen. Studien haben gezeigt, dass zwei Drittel aller ehemaligen Patienten mit Spätfolgen zu rechnen haben. Bei einem Fünftel führen diese Spätfolgen zu einer verminderten Lebensqualität. Die Lebensqualität nach Krebs ist nicht nur für den einzelnen Patienten ein sozialer, sondern ein gesamtgesellschaftlich wirtschaftlicher Faktor. Die Studiengruppe LESS publiziert u. a. Leitlinien und Nachsorgeempfehlungen für die Langzeitnachsorge ehemaliger Betroffener. Zur Verbesserung der Compliance von Patienten für diese Nachsorgeprogramme wurde eine mobile Applikation implementiert. Die Anwendung bietet Informationen über Nachsorgeempfehlungen und unterstützt das Management der Nachsorge mit Hilfe einer Kalenderfunktion. Ein Prototyp der App, zugeschnitten auf die Erkrankung Osteosarkom, wurde an zwei Universitätskliniken evaluiert. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen das sehr hohe Potenzial der Anwendung die Autonomie der Patienten zu stärken.

Key words

childhood cancer - late effects - mobile application - aftercare - mhealth

Schlüsselwörter

Krebserkrankungen bei Kindern - Spätfolgen - Mobile Applikation - Nachsorge - mHealth
 

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