title: Smartphone applications for cancer patients; what we know about them?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  one of the groups that can benefit most from healthcare applications, are cancer patients. However, not all applications have a sufficient level of evidence. Our objective is to analyze the characteristics of mobile healthcare applications for cancer patients and know the reliability of their information.
  
  
  METHODS
  a descriptive observational study of mobile apps targeting cancer patients. In November 2014, we searched mobile applications for cancer patients in the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android), using the terms "cancer" and "oncology" (English and/or Spanish languages). Applications were downloaded and evaluated. We registered their general characteristics (classification of cancer, last date of actualization, language and others) and their purpose (whether were informative, diagnostic, or preventive purposes) on an Excel® chart. The analysis was completed with an internet search to analyze their scientific evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  one hundred and sixty six applications were downloaded. 23.5% were destined for breast cancer. 52.4% upgraded their software in the last year. 98.2 % were in English. Most of the applications had more than one purpose. The most frequent were informative (39.8%), diagnostic (38.6%) and preventive (28.3%). 50.6% presented sufficient scientific evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  there are many benefits that are expected from these applications. However, we detected a lack of validity of the information, as well as lack of update of the data. To prevent these apps from becoming a safety problem rather than a useful tool for patients, regulation should be put in place.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. roberto.collado@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Collado-Borrell
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. vicente.escudero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Escudero-Vilaplana
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. vicente.escudero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribed-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. vicente.escudero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibáñez-García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. vicente.escudero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herranz-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid. Spain.. vicente.escudero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanjurjo-Sáez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D000068997:Smartphone