Currently submitted to: JMIR Cancer
Date Submitted: May 28, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: May 29, 2026 - Jul 24, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Effect of BRAVE (Breast Cancer Rehabilitation And Vital Empowerment) App on Knowledge and Awareness about Physiotherapy and Quality of Life among Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The latest WHO-GLOBOCAN data came out in October 2020. In India, approximately 1,78,361 i.e 13.3% new cases of breast cancer are detected per annum with 90,408 i.e. 10.6% deaths. With the 5-year overall survival, a study reported it to be 95% for stage I patients, 92% for stage II, 70% for stage III and only 21% for stage IV patients but with lifelong complications. There is evidence-based protocol for physiotherapy treatment in breast cancer but the lack of knowledge about the treatment and its benefits forms a barrier between patient and therapist. The lack of knowledge can be fulfilled by the app as it will give easy access to people while giving information about importance of physiotherapy in improving QOL and additional information about home-based exercises and prosthetics.
Objective:
To evaluate the awareness and knowledge of physiotherapy and evaluate Quality of life of breast cancer survivors after using the BRAVE App as intervention.
Methods:
30 females suffering from breast cancer above the age 18 years were chosen. After the collection of baseline data and knowledge and awareness questionnaire the link to BRAVE App was provide. After 8 weeks post intervention data was collected.
Results:
Statistical analysis was done by using Chi-Square test for signifying the lack of knowledge and awareness about oncological rehabilitation in the breast cancer survivors. The pre and post intervention data was statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test which gave significant improvement in post intervention functional score and quality of life. The overall mean for complete satisfaction usage of the BRAVE APP is near to 4.0 indicating higher satisfaction value.
Conclusions:
The pilot study is concluded as after the satisfied usage of BRAVE App there was improvement in functional score directly improving quality of life while addressing the lack of knowledge and awareness about physiotherapy with a cost-effective east to use intervention. Clinical Trial: The study was registered in the Clinical Trial Registry India with registration number CTRI/2025/05/086125.
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