The comfort app prototype: introducing a web-based application for monitoring comfort in palliative care

Aim: To introduce a web-based application for monitoring comfort in patients receiving palliative care. Methods: Multi-phase electronic application development process that concluded with a pilot design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the developed app (n=7 patients). Results: The app is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows. The results from phases I and II provided the knowledge about monitoring comfort. In phase III, five experts analysed the content of the app. The assessment of comfort comprises 11 self-reported items (pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, fear of the future, peace and the will to live). In phase IV, a total of 117 messages were retrieved. Participants considered the app simple, easy to use and useful. Conclusions: This prototype is feasible and user-friendly. Further research is needed to continue the app development, particularly in terms of data protection.