KeepMeSafe is a smart phone application that uses daily checklists to encourage contact with the clinical team if significant side-effects during cancer treatment are confirmed.
KeepMeSafe is geared towards supporting cancer patients and completed feasibility studies with a successful patient trial in Ysbyty Gwynedd under the stewardship of Dr Chris Subbe – and other hospitals are looking at adoption. The app was co-produced with clinical teams from the North Wales Cancer Centre drawing on expertise from Tenovus, Macmillian and The Christie Cancer Centre with significant input from patient representatives from conception to evaluation.
KeepMeSafe is predicated on the concept of ‘safety is a network’ and allows the app to be connected to another friend or family member to receive updates on the patient – this ‘buddy system’ is truly innovative in the health sector.
Aim
To reduce the impact of cancer complications on patients and their families.
Background
Modern treatments of cancer save many lives but are often associated with complications.
Many of these complications are predictable and some are preventable.
In order to help patient and their carers to keep safe during the challenging times of cancer treatment ‘Keep Me Safe’ encourages regular checks for important complications helping patients and their carers to take the right steps if these occur.
Methods
Co-design of a smartphone app with patients and health care professionals (BCUHB cancer network). The focus group supervised the development and patient trial.
Feasibility testing in small cohorts in two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles of two months with refinement of the application between cycles. Total of fifty patients plus control group.
Evaluation and reporting with mixed methods: At the end of the 60-day period patients and family members were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their experience either during an outpatient appointment or by mail. Data on hospital usage was be extracted from the patient administration system.
