Novas tecnologias do cuidado em saúde: uso de aplicativos móveis em ginecologia

Abstract

Introduction: The use of mobile phones is increasing worldwide. Mobile apps (mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, and personal digital assistants) are becoming rapidly available and are being used as an essential tool in promoting health, preventing disease and medical education. Objective: The aim was to characterize mobile applications (apps) used on mobile devices on digital platforms that address topics about gynecology and obstetrics. Moreover, to assess the efficacy of mobile applications to improve adherence to medication in cancer treatment. Methods: The study was divided into two steps. The first step involved a search at the online iTunes App Store (Apple Inc, Brazil), and Google Play Store (Google Inc, Brazil) using Lenovo Vibe K5 and iPhone 6S telephones. The Mesh terms "gynecology" and "Obstetrics," were applied separately. The following information was included: name, description, app developer, category (medicine, health and fitness, education), update data, version, classification, language, app store or stores in which the app was available, and the search term or terms that retrieved the app, as well as the practical and functionality features. Eligible apps were initially screened and then downloaded for functionality and quality assessment using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). The second step involved the elaboration protocol review systematic. The databases MEDLINE, Embase, SciELO, Scopus and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will be used to search for articles from January 2008. Clinical Trials, Controlled Clinical Trials, Randomized Controlled Trials using mobile applications in patients to aid adherence to medication in cancer treatment will be included. The primary outcome is concerning adherence to medicines in cancer treatment. The secondary issue is about Improvement in Self-care/ quality of life and control of signs and symptoms. Three independent reviewers will select trials and extract data from the original publications. The risk of bias will be assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data synthesis will be performed using the Review Manager software (RevMan V.5.2.3). To assess heterogeneity, we will compute the I2 statistic. The heterogeneity of the studies will be evaluated in the funnel plot. Additionally, a quantitative synthesis will be used if the included studies are sufficiently homogenous. Results: Three hundred and fourteen apps were found, and 79 were excluded. The category description was: 103(44%) were books, journals, magazines, manuals, guidelines or dictionaries; Medicine was the principal application area with 163(69%) apps, and there has been significant annual growth since 2010. The inclusion criteria were the download frequency and publication time. The ten most downloaded applications from the last two years were selected and evaluated according to the MARS scale, and the average quality was between 4.73 and 1.74. Conclusion: In recent years, apps for smartphones and tablets in gynecology and obstetrics are increasingly notable especially for general health information; however, there is a limitation in more complex applications such as the use on the decision-making processes by professionals (care based on scientific evidence which includes algorithms) and self-care. Moreover, app-based studies are the future of medical research.