Despite the development of mobile device technology over recent years, its application in the field of teaching has not yet had a parallel development. For the past two decades teaching subjects such as histology has undergone a change in the digital use of its content and didactic methods based on Web applications, e-learning portals, etc., in which the use of high definition images enables the substitution of the light microscope for a “virtual microscope”. This paper describes a mobile device solution based on the use of Near Field Communication technology for supporting teaching in medical histology. The didactic contents are managed in a database which stores information and images corresponding to the histological slides that are handed out to students in the glass slides for their analysis under a microscope. By associating a single NFC chip to each glass slide and touching this chip with a smartphone, students are given access to all the multimedia information related to the histological slides, without needing a mobile device. The system developed, called HistoNFC, enables access to this information at any moment, as well as the follow-up to the didactic activity and student evaluation. Evaluation of the system has been carried out by histology students of medical degree at the University of Córdoba, assessing aspects of the assisted-learning process as well as technologies, and the results obtained have been very favorable for both, as can be seen in detail in this study.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of mobile health (mHealth) applications in uro-oncology, hereafter referred to as mHealth apps, specifically examining their potential to improve patient care, symptom management, and communication in genitourinary cancer treatment. Methods: Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive systematic review was conducted focusing on mHealth applications for patients with genitourinary cancers. Results: The review analyzed 29 studies, which revealed that mHealth apps demonstrated potential in uro-oncology patient care. Key findings included effective symptom monitoring, enhanced decision support, and improved patient education. The applications were found to be feasible and well-accepted by patients. However, implementation challenges were identified, including technical barriers, variations in app quality, and unequal access to digital healthcare technologies. This review systematically categorized mHealth interventions into three functional domains—symptom management, decision support, and personalized care—and identified critical implementation barriers including digital inequity, high risk of bias, and app quality variability. Conclusions: Mobile health applications demonstrate promise in revolutionizing uro-oncology care. Future research should prioritize developing comprehensive applications that address a broader range of urological cancers, enhance patient–clinician communication, and undergo rigorous evaluation. Collaborative efforts among researchers, clinicians, and app developers are crucial to overcome existing limitations and maximize the potential of these innovative healthcare tools.

A pesar del desarrollo de las tecnologías móviles en los últimos años, la aplicación de las mismas en la enseñanza no ha tenido aún un desarrollo paralelo. La docencia en asignaturas como la Histología, han experimentado un cambio hacia el uso de la digitalización de sus contenidos y métodos de enseñanza. En este Proyecto se describe una solución móvil basada en el uso de la tecnología Near Field Communication para apoyar la docencia en Histología Médica. Los contenidos docentes son gestionados en una base de datos que almacena información docente e imágenes correspondientes a las preparaciones histológicas que son entregadas a los alumnos en los porta-objetos para su análisis en el microscopio. Asociando un chip NFC único a cada porta-objetos y tocando este chip con un Smartphone los alumnos disponen, sin necesidad de una aplicación móvil, de acceso a toda la información multimedia relacionada con las preparaciones histológicas. El sistema desarrollado, denominado HistoNFC, posibilita el acceso a esta información en cualquier momento, así como el seguimiento de la actividad docente y evaluación de los alumnos. La evaluación del sistema fue realizada por alumnos de Histología Médica del Grado de Medicina, valorando aspectos tanto del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje como tecnológico. Los resultados obtenidos han sido muy favorables en ambos casos.