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Factors Associated with Use of the LETSGO mHealth App in Routine Follow-Up After Gynecologic Cancer Treatment: An Observational Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) offer new opportunities to support cancer survivors in managing their health, adopting healthier lifestyles, and increasing awareness of recurrence symptoms. However, despite their potential, little is known about survivors’ use of such tools in routine follow-up care, or which factors are associated with their engagement.
Objective:
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to identify survivor characteristics associated with the use of the Lifestyle and Empowerment Techniques in Survivorship of Gynecologic Oncology (LETSGO) app. In addition, we aimed to describe engagement patterns among gynecologic cancer survivors during the first year of follow-up after treatment.
Methods:
Methods:
App data from 378 participants in the intervention group of the Lifestyle and Empowerment Techniques in Survivorship of Gynecologic Oncology (LETSGO) multicenter clinical trial were included in the analysis. Using multiple logistic regression, we analyzed app data from the first year of LETSGO app use to identify participant characteristics associated with usage. In addition, we described the frequency of user interactions with app features and identified the most frequently used features during the first year of the intervention.
Results:
Results:
Of the 378 participants in the intervention group, 267 (71%) used the LETSGO app at least twice and were defined as app users. The median age of app nonusers was 70 years vs 63 years among app users (P<.001). App use was associated with younger age (OR 0.96 per year; 95% CI 0.93-0.99; P=.003), higher education (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.6; P=.028), and having ovarian cancer (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.1-7.5; P=.025). The LETSGO app included a monthly reminder for symptom self-registration, and monthly peaks in the Symptom Monitoring feature corresponded with the timing of this reminder. App log data from the full first year of the intervention were available for 49 participants. Among these, user engagement was highest for the Physical Activity and Activity Goal Setting features, whereas the Disease Information feature showed steady but less frequent use.
Conclusions:
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that LETSGO app use was associated with survivor characteristics such as age, education level, and cancer type. Considering user characteristics when tailoring mobile health apps may support user engagement in digital follow-up care and inform the development of mHealth tools that better align with survivors needs and preferences. Sustained user engagement with the LETSGO app was observed during the first year of follow-up among gynecological cancer survivors, with the highest use of Physical Activity and Activity Goal Setting features. Steady use of the Disease Information feature suggests an ongoing need for accessible health information during follow-up, while the pattern of symptom registration following reminders indicates that scheduled prompts may support regular app engagement.
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Copyright
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