Mobile applications in colorectal surgery Digitally advancing patient care

This thesis describes the current landscape of medical mobile applications, assesses patients’ perspectives on stoma care, and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of patient-centred mobile applications in colorectal surgical care. This thesis highlights the importance of data privacy and safety regulations in medical mobile applications. Mobile applications have the potential to enhance and support colorectal surgical care in several ways. However, only a limited number of applications have been adequately assessed in peer-reviewed literature. An essential component is to safeguard the accuracy of medical content and ensure that apps undergo robust research and vetting. Therefore, we have researched the needs of both patients and healthcare providers. Based on these findings the Stoma App was developed and clinically evaluated. Clinical trials assessed the effectiveness of both the Stoma App and the ERAS App in improving patient outcomes. Results showed notable enhancements, with the Stoma App significantly boosting postoperative stoma-related quality of life, while the ERAS App notably improved patient adherence to the ERAS protocol. This thesis emphasises the feasibility of integrating medical applications into colorectal surgical care, revealing their potential to enhance patient empowerment and other outcomes. However, the prevailing challenge is that the majority of presently available apps lack sufficient clinical evaluation regarding their effectiveness and safety. The journey toward the systematic integration of medical apps into clinical practice demands the overcoming of several hurdles.