Volume 28, Issue 6 (Iran South Med J 2026)                   Iran South Med J 2026, 28(6): 879-900 | Back to browse issues page


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Karami Mozafari M, Nasiri S, Namazi A. Information Requirements of a Mobile-Based Self-Care Application for Patients with Esophageal Cancer. Iran South Med J 2026; 28 (6) :879-900
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-2467-en.html
1- Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , nasiri.so@iums.ac.ir
3- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
RasoulAkram Medical Complex Clinical Research Development Center (RCRDC), Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (268 Views)
Background: Patients with esophageal cancer face multidimensional physical, nutritional, and psychological needs, which are associated with reduced quality of life, malnutrition, and emotional problems. Mobile health applications can play an effective role in improving treatment outcomes and disease management by educating and strengthening self-care skills. Needs assessment is essential before designing an application. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the information requirements of a mobile self-care application for patients with esophageal cancer.
Materials and Methods: This applied descriptive study was conducted 2014 to evaluate the requirements of the esophageal cancer application in three areas: educational content, data elements, and application capabilities. The questionnaire was distributed among 25 specialist physicians and 20 patients with esophageal cancer in Hazrat Rasool Akram (PBUH) and Firoozgar hospitals. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics in SPSS software, and the
components identified as essential by at least 60% of the participants were selected as the final requirements.

Results: Out of 89 proposed components, 68 were identified as essential. These included 14 educational needs (covering general information about esophageal cancer, lifestyle, and therapeutic measures), 27 data elements (demographic and clinical), and 27 application features.
Conclusion: The requirements determined in the present study can serve as a major step for developing a self-care application to meet the essential needs of patients with esophageal cancer in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, stress control, medication management, follow-up of tests, and establishing effective communication with a specialist physician.
Full-Text [PDF 1079 kb]   (132 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original | Subject: General
Received: 2025/12/9 | Accepted: 2026/02/24 | Published: 2026/06/10

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