MAESTRA: A mHealth Application to Enhance Support, Treatment Readiness and Adjustment among Spanish-Speakers Diagnosed with Cancer

Introduction: Cancer and its treatment can significantly impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly for Hispanics. The heterogeneity of the Hispanic population can make it difficult to adequately and accurately develop interventions to address these disparities. Tailor-friendly mHealth technologies may offer a solution. There is little research on the use of such technologies designed to positively impact Hispanic cancer patients’ HRQOL. Objective: The purpose of our research was to identify breast-cancer diagnosed, Spanish-speaking Latinas’ needs for support and preferences for a mhealth support tool. Methods: We employed a user-centered, community-engaged research design, consisting of a comprehensive literature review, focus groups, and individual cognitive interviews. Results: Focus group (n=30) results revealed a mHealth support tool should not only offer information and support on disease and treatment effects, but also be responsive to the emotional and social challenges a person faces.  Cognitive interview results (n=10), conducted with an initial prototype, indicated the tool would be very useful. The majority of participants were satisfied with the look, feel, organization, purpose, ease of use, and content provided, and said they would use it.  Conclusion: Findings indicate positive support for a social networking mobile application tool, designed with Spanish-speakers in mind, connecting recently diagnosed cancer patients with cancer survivors. Our next steps include the complete development of the prototype and pilot-testing it with members of local cancer support groups that support Spanish-speakers diagnosed with breast cancer. Given future positive findings, we would expand the effort to other forms of cancer.