A mobile phone application for public awareness of prostate cancer and its management in Kenya

Date
2016
Authors
Atwa, Emman Joshua
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Smartphones and other mobile technologies are becoming one of the most promising avenues of helping individuals manage their health at scale. Mobile phones or smartphones are rapidly becoming the central computer and communication device in people’s lives. Existing application delivery channels such as the Google Playstore are transforming mobile phones into App Phones, giving users access to a wide range of applications. This dissertation involves raising public awareness of prostate cancer and its management in Kenya. Despite efforts to encourage the public to increase its awareness by having frequent screening of prostate cancer at health facilities, most patients present themselves with the disease at very advanced stages, with little or no knowledge of what they are suffering from. This greatly reduces the chances of the patients recovering from the disease. With mobile phones becoming a part of many people’s lives in Kenya, there is an opportunity to greatly increase awareness of prostate cancer and its management among the public and ease of access to the cancer specialists. An analysis, design and development of a prostate cancer awareness and management mobile application was done. The application was tested by the target users of the system. The application entails user friendly interfaces with simple and very rich information to the public on prostate cancer, ability to self-examine the symptoms, access and request for appointments with the doctors or specialist, searching for the local prostate cancer centres and prostate cancer awareness related events. Its implementation also involved the use of Google Maps for mobile to locate the nearest prostate cancer centres that those patients could visit for screening and treatment.
Description
A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunication and Innovation
Keywords
Mobile application, Prostate cancer, Public awareness, Management, Cancer, Smartphones, Google Maps for mobile, prostate cancer management
Citation