JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of myeloid malignancies associated with significant symptom burden. Despite pharmacological advances in therapies, inadequate management of MPN symptoms results in reduced quality of life.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a 12-week global wellness mobile application intervention in decreasing MPN symptom burden. The University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine’s global wellness mobile application, My Wellness Coach (MWC), guides patients to improve their health and wellbeing through facilitating behavioral changes.

Methods:

Thirty patients enrolled in a 12-week intervention; 16 (53%) were retained through the final assessment. Feasibility was assessed by ease of recruitment, participant adherence and mobile application acceptability. Application acceptability was measured by the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS). MPN symptom burden was measured at baseline and 12-weeks post-intervention.

Results:

Recruitment was efficient with the participant goal reached within a 60-day period, suggestive of a demand for such an intervention. Adherence was less than target within study design (75%) yet similar to mobile application use in other studies (53%). The application was deemed acceptable based on the mean uMARS 3-star rating by participants. Finally, there were statistically significant improvements in several MPN symptoms, quality of life, and total score on the MPN-SAF surveys.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, our 12-week intervention with the MWC application was feasible and was associated with a decrease in MPN symptom burden. Further investigation of the MWC application for use as self-management strategy to reduce symptom burden in MPN patients is warranted. Clinical Trial: Trial did not require registration.