title: Development of a mobile application of Breast Cancer e-Support program for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience a variety of physical and psychosocial symptoms, which have negative effect on women's quality of life and psychological well-being. Although M-health technologies provides innovative and easily accessible option to provide psychosocial support, mobile phone based interventions remain limited for these women in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a new mobile application to offer information as well as social and emotional support to women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy to promote their self-efficacy and social support, thus improving symptom management strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basing on previous theoretical framework which incorporated Bandura's self-efficacy theory and the social exchange theory, a new mobile application, called Breast Cancer e-Support Program (BCS) was designed, with the content and functionality being validated by the expert panel and women with breast cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BCS App program has four modules: 1) Learning forum; 2) Discussion forum; 3) Ask-the-Expert forum; and 4) Personal Stories forum. BCS program can be applied on both android mobile phones and iPhones to reach more women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first of its kind developed in China for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A randomized controlled trial is undertaking to test the effectiveness of BCS program.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Medical School, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.|Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jiemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Breast Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Medical School, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Qu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Sally Wai-Chi
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016730:Program Development; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support
keywords: M-health; application; breast cancer; chemotherapy; mobile phone; symptom management