JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Carers experience their own unique needs while caring for someone with cancer. Interventions that address carers’ needs and well-being have been developed and tested however, the use of smartphone applications to support adult carers looking after another adult with cancer has not been assessed.

Objective:

To test the feasibility, useability and acceptability of a smartphone application, called the Carer Guide App, for carers of people with colorectal cancer.

Methods:

Carers of people with colorectal cancer were recruited from outpatient day oncology units and had access to a smartphone application for 30 days. Carers were provided with video instructions and email contact details for technical support. Carers received two email messages per week directing them to resources available within the application. Carers completed questionnaires at baseline and 30 days post application download. Feasibility was determined by recruitment and attrition rates, and relevancy of content to carers’ needs. Useability was assessed by the ease of navigation and design and use of technical support/instruction videos. Acceptability was measured by self-reported usage, usage statistics by Google Analytics© and comments for improvement.

Results:

26 (30%) carers were recruited into the trial. The majority of carers were female (73%), on average 57 years of age, were caring for a spouse with cancer (73%), and held a university degree (71%). Feasibility: Carers perceived the content of the Carer Guide App as relevant to the information they were seeking. Usability: carers perceived the navigation and design of the app easy to use. Four carers (15%) viewed the downloading and navigation video and seven (27%) used the contact email address for queries and comments. Acceptability: On average carers used the smartphone application for 22 minutes (SD 21 minutes) throughout the 30 day trial. Over one-third of carers (37%) logged on three to four times during the 30 days and 26% logged on more than 5 times. The majority (84%) of carers stated they would recommend the application be available for all carers. Comments for improvement included individualised requests for specific content.

Conclusions:

The Carer Guide App was feasible and useable among carers of people with colorectal cancer. Acceptability can be improved through the inclusion of a variety of information and resources. A randomised control trial is required to assess the impact of the Carer Guide on carers’ health and wellbeing.