FEATURE
physicians who treat hematologic disorders
and malignancies may find helpful, according
to Susan Doyle-Lindrud, DNP, director of
the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and
Oncology Program in the School of Nursing
at Columbia University in New York.
“Mobile apps have allowed health-care
professionals to obtain information from
smartphones instantly during patient
encounters,” she said. “Access to drug
dosing, drug interactions, body surface
area calculations, and criteria for grading
adverse events has improved efficiency in
the clinical setting.”
The main selling point of these apps is that
they are offered by professional organizations that
peer review and update content on a periodic
basis, Dr. Doyle-Lindrud explained. She noted
that they are also used by cancer physicians as
reliable resources for treatment information.
And, though there are oncology-specific
mobile apps that she recommends, such as
medication reminder tools or educational
materials from patient-centered websites
run by medical societies, uptake among
patients is slower.
Dr. Krebs sees potential for hematology/
oncology apps that can truly make a difference
in patients’ everyday lives. “I think apps could
be used to educate patients, especially when
they receive an initial diagnosis – that moment
when patients say, ‘I have cancer. What now?
What happens in the future?’” he said.
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