Development of Mobile App for Breast Examination Awareness Using Health Belief Model: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health technologies are widely being used for delivering health behaviour interventions. However, there is insufficient evidence that they are integrating theory and only a few researchers utilized a qualitative approach in their study. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to identify requirements in developing a breast examination awareness mobile app based on the component of the Health Belief Model (HBM) for integration in health promotion strategy. METHODS: A qualitative approach using semi-structured in-depth interview was utilized in this study. A purposive sampling method was conducted among public women attending hospital services, software and content experts in a tertiary teaching hospital in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and organized using NVIVO 11. The main themes were identified through thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.  Results: A total of 37 participants recruited in this study. The themes that emerged from the analysis are vulnerability, forecasting, reactive, influence, outcome and obstacles. The sub-themes findings supported the HBM's component in terms of the requirement for are an infographic risk factor, video (symptoms, self-examination), info (metastasis, survival, screening, triple assessment, treatment, myth and facts, benefit of early treatment, support groups), features (screening reminder, sharing button, prompt) and mobile app's design. CONCLUSION: The research findings could provide a guide for future app development from public women, content and software experts.  The information will be used to develop a breast examination awareness mobile app integrated with health theories.

Mobile Health Application Applying the Health Belief Model for Breast Cancer Awareness: What Is Missing?

@#Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancer incidents among women and is estimated at around 24.2% worldwide and 32.1% in Malaysia. Accessibility to current breast promotion is limited to those who seek the information, suggesting consideration of an alternative approach using a mobile app. This study aimed to identify existing breast awareness mobile apps based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) components with a descriptive observation review. Fifty-two apps fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were reviewed. Eligible apps (N=52) which are standalone (n=41) and non-standalone (n=11). The categories of the eligible apps are health & fitness (n=31), lifestyle (n=6), medical (n=11), entertainment (n=2), book & reference (n=1), education (n=3). The apps focused on perceived susceptibility (n=33/52, 63.5%), perceived severity (n=30/52, 57.7%), perceived threat (n=48/52, 92.3%), perceived benefit (n=46/52, 88.5%), perceived barriers (n=23/52, 44.2%), self-efficacy (n=25/52, 48.1%) and cues to action (n=27/52, 51.9%). Most of the apps focused on perceived threat and benefit but lacking on a perceived barrier. This review could provide information to develop appropriately tailored content supported by health theories to promote breast cancer awareness.