Jacksonville, Fla.-based UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, a part of the University of Florida, has rolled out a new educational tool for children undergoing cancer treatment.
The interactive health app, called Proton U, is designed to help children who need proton therapy, an advanced type of radiation treatment. Proton U serves as educational introduction to the therapy by allowing children to download and familiarize themselves with what to expect during treatment.
Kim Todd, a child life specialist at UF Health, sought to develop an app parents could use with their children at home. She worked with students from the local Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., to design graphics and record character voices for the app. Stephen Arce, PhD, an engineering faculty member at UF, programmed Proton U with music and animation.
The app is offered in English, Spanish and Norwegian.