THE EFFECT OF INFORMATIVE MOBILE APP USE ON ANXIETY, DISTRESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

FİLİZ SALMAN SARAÇ, SİBEL ERKAL İLHAN, SUAT KUTUN, SEVİNÇ KUTLUTÜRKAN

European Journal of Breast Health - 2024;20(3):207-214

Department of Surgical Nursing Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Health Sciences, Isparta, Turkey

 

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of mobile app-based educational information on anxiety, distress, and quality of life in patients with breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods This mobile app was designed to assist patients before and after BC surgery. This randomized controlled study was conducted between April and August 202The intervention group (n = 42) received routine care and access to the mobile app for one month, while the control group (n = 40) received only routine care. Data were collected using questionnaires one week before and three weeks after surgery. RESULTS The patients in the intervention group, after using the mobile app, had significantly lower anxiety and distress levels than those in the control group (p<0.05). However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding overall quality of life and subscale mean scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that using informative mobile apps starting before surgery can effectively reduce anxiety and distress in the early periods after surgery. Although the impact on overall quality of life was insignificant, such interventions may have long-term positive effects on quality of life.