New McGill University Study Shows that a Promising eHealth App called Belong Enhances the Patient Experience with Cancer

NEW YORK, March 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Belong.Life, the world's largest interactive social network for cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals, announced today that according to a new Study from McGill University, its personalized eHealth application shows promise for timely patient support, engagement, and symptom management. According to preliminary findings presented by McGill University's graduate student Saima Ahmed at the 2018 Machine Learning for Healthcare Annual Research Meeting at Stanford University, patients rate Belong very high on quality metrics and reported the app gives them a sense of control, feeling less alone in their cancer journey.

"Through the years, eHealth apps have become increasingly popular among individuals facing various health challenges. It is now crucial to systematically assess their relevance and real-world impact," explained Dr. Carmen G. Loiselle, Full Professor in the Department of Oncology and the Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine at McGill University (loisellelab.ca). "This study highlights the importance of using quantitative and qualitative approaches to study the potential effects of App use. BELONG offers ample research opportunities as it allows data capture in real time, such as patient-reported outcomes while integrating the latest machine learning principles." Dr. Loiselle led the study with the collaboration of Dr. Walter Gotlieb, Director of Surgical Oncology and Professor in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Oncology at McGill University.

The study, which took place in the gynecological oncology division at the Segal Cancer Center of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, examined the value of Belong's features. 84% of respondents agreed that the Belong's platform helped them feel less alone in their cancer journey. 80% of respondents said that they felt better prepared for medical consultations using the app.

"It is well known that patients who are more engaged in the cancer treatment process are more likely to adhere to it and experience better outcomes and quality of life" says Dr. Gerald Batist, Director, Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital and Chief Medical Officer of Exactis, the Canadian National Centre of Excellence in Personalized Medicine. "In addition, psychological well-being is crucial to optimize the treatment process. The fact that most patients in the study said that the Belong community made them feel less alone indicates that such platforms can tangibly assist patients across the whole cancer trajectory." 

"This study shows that Belong is at the forefront of digital healthcare solutions and promoting patient engagement," said Eliran Malki, Co-founder and CEO of Belong. "The app enhances the quality of life and health-related outcomes of patients because it allows them to hyper-personalize their app experience. Personalization is exactly what Belong seeks to provide by using advanced machine learning algorithms and analytics to understand each user's unique situation and needs. We look forward to continuing to transform the way health care systems approach patient engagement, while improving cancer journeys and outcomes."

Belong is available for download at: http://belong.life/download

About Belong

Founded in 2015 by noted entrepreneurs Eliran Malki, Irad Deutsch and Ohad Rubin after each lost relatives to cancer, Belong is a free patient navigation app that allows cancer patients and their support network to explore and better manage their treatment journey and improve quality of life. The Belong global community is a proprietary big data platform and machine learning technology that enables people to connect, receive and share clinical information anonymously and to privately discuss urgent issues related to their condition. Today, Belong is the world's largest digital cancer patient platform and has partnerships with the American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer Canada, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and others. The company also conducts research and collaborates with leading universities and has published research with The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and other organizations.

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Media Contact:
Goel (Glenn) Jasper 
Finn Partners for Belong
054-467-6981 
[email protected]

SOURCE Belong