Development of a new Peyronie's disease self-assessment screening app

Abstract

Peyronie's disease (PD) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated fibroproliferative disorder associated with the formation of plaques that results in penile curvature and discourages some men from seeking medical consultation. The PD self-assessment app, a digital application (app), was developed to increase PD awareness, provide men with a self-screening and educational tool for PD, and help eliminate barriers to seeking consultation with a physician. Prior to deployment, 4 board-certified urologists provided qualitative reviews on the app's usability and utility as a screening tool. The PD self-assessment app features a questionnaire that addresses penile curvature, challenges with penetration, partner distress, and the impact on sexual experiences. The app uses the phone's camera lens to perform a live scan employing a mathematical algorithm to determine the degree of curvature of an erect penis. Results include a three-dimensional (3D) penile simulation and a two-dimensional (2D) penile outline, allowing the user to mark plaque locations and determine the maximum curvature without requiring personal photographs. The user can choose to email their answers to the questionnaire and the representative penile simulation results to their physician. The app also includes external links directing users to an educational website focused on PD and to help with finding a treating physician. The app was designed with privacy and security features including optional password protection, encryption of sensitive data, in-app storage of all screening results, and the erasing of all data when the app is uninstalled. Patients will be empowered to self-assess their PD and locate a PD-experienced physician privately and securely. The app is not designed for diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any medical conditions, or diseases, nor does it substitute for a medical consultation. For security, scanning technology, rather than personal photography, is adjunctive to the diagnosis process. The app is designed to be flexible and expandable for future updates. It aims to assist men and their partners in learning about PD, tracking penile deformity, and enabling communication with a health care provider (HCP).

Keywords: Penile curvature; Peyronie’s disease (PD); Peyronie’s plaque; mobile applications; self-assessment.