**3. App design**

an mHealth application and not their rationale for their security preference and hence negated from the above list. The two submitted answers include: "*Handy if required when travelling/emergencies*" and "*It would help to track what might have been working at the time to maintain lung function (e.g. meds/physio)*". In a follow up question specific to the usefulness of such an application, 87.5% of participants reported that they would find it beneficial to have access to their medical data through an mHealth app. Of the 49 participants 67.35% agreed that an mHealth app that recorded their medical data would be useful and 61.22% confirmed they

Two questions were also posed regarding travel and admission to the accident

and emergency department in a hospital to determine scenarios in which the recording of medical information would be of benefit (similar to other passports as discussed earlier). 75.5% of participants reported having gone travelling outside of Ireland and only 12 participants have had to visit a hospital emergency room due their CF. When the participants were asked if they would use a CF mHealth app if

Lastly, the participants were given the option to share what they felt a CF mHealth app should target. Twenty three participants suggested mHealth apps which can be categorized under three headings; Management, Support, and Information. Sixteen participants suggested management apps to track and store their medical information to aid in self-management of the condition. Examples of this category include *"Medication taken/taking"* and *"Medical Info i.e weight lung fx exercise + diet plans"*. Six participants suggested apps that can access medical information such as drug names and new treatments or research. An example of this category includes *"Proper medical names of meds"* and *"New treatments"*. Lastly, five participants suggest apps which can allow for support among CF patients, similar to

social networks; *"Experience/Information sharing between other patients".*

It is noted that slightly more patients own an Android device; however, the number of iPhone owners was still high. The first observation to note from the survey results is the paucity in awareness of CF apps. Only five patients reported being aware of CF mHealth apps, and only two patients have these apps installed. To note one of the apps, "MyFitnessPal", which was regarded as a CF specific mHealth app, is not. This app does not target any specific cohort and includes personalisable goal setting, such as weight gain, weight loss, weight maintenance. When questioned further this seemed to be primarily due to being unaware of such apps; *"I don't think there is any".* However, despite this lack of awareness, the CF adult participants still demonstrated interest and expectations on what a CF app should focus on. New Research Developments, Medication, and Physiotherapy focused apps were of the most interest to these participants. Additionally, tracking medical data and receiving alerts or reminders were the most popular features. It is important to note that the participants demonstrated concerns regarding data security and as such any mHealth app created for these patients will need to be fully transparent *i.e* full disclosure on what data is being collected, who is it being

Personalizing educational content in this way is synonymous with patient management mechanisms and interventions, as the multimedia is educating the patient on their medical condition data or personal symptoms. Examples of patient management interventions include: audio tapes, booklets, patient credit card/patient passports, counseling, exercise sessions, individual plan/goal setting, manuals,

would use an app to record this data.

**2.2 Survey discussion**

created, 67.5% said yes; however, 27.5% were unsure.

*Cystic Fibrosis - Heterogeneity and Personalized Treatment*

used/viewed by, and the security measures in place.

videos, and lectures/talks [20].

**110**
